Today, President Obama will visit TechBoston Academy. The public school opened in 2002 with money from a foundation headed by Melinda Gates and her husband, Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft Corp.

Investing in education and improving our schools has been a major theme of the Obama presidency. The school visit will shift attention, and perhaps even public support, to the President’s desire to create a federal agency that will focus on breakthroughs in education technology by linking educational excellence to jobs and private-sector competitiveness.

TechBoston Academy opened in September 2002 with an initial class of 75 students, adding a grade each year to become a high school serving students in grades 9-12.

According to their web site, 92% of the first graduating class (2006) went to college as compared to 63% of Boston Public School students. The 54 members of the class of 2006 received “just over $1,000,000 in scholarships and financial aid. In 2010, 93% of the graduating class went to college as compared to 61% of Boston Public School students. The 66 members of the class of 2010 received over $2,000,000 in scholarships and financial aid.”

TechBoston Academy has also distinguished itself through its students’ achievements on the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment (MCAS) test. In 2010, “98% of TechBoston Academy students passed the English Language Arts MCAS, compared to the BPS district average of 92% and the MA state average of 96%. On the Math MCAS, 95% of TechBoston Academy students in 2010 passed, compared to the district average of 86% and the state average of 93%. Finally, 86% of students at TechBoston Academy are graduating compared to 61% of BPS students.”

TechBoston Academy is a student-centered learning environment where technology is the “bridge that connects a student to their learning experience. The daily schedule includes history, math, English, science and introductory and advanced technology courses, as well as, health and theater arts classes to “create a diverse learning experience for the students.”