A new program beginning next school year will let students in grades 6 through 12 participate in school sports on weekends at no cost, with academic enrichment offered alongside practices and games. Wu said students who play sports attend school more often, take on leadership roles and earn better grades.

Wu also announced an after-school program at Madison Park Technical Vocational High School that will give high school students from across Boston hands-on experience in the trades. The city plans to increase the number of jobs offered to young people at local businesses by 300 compared with the previous year. The mayor also pointed to an expansion of Advanced Placement courses, including new offerings in business, personal finance and cybersecurity.

The district will set five-year targets later this fall for student attendance, early literacy, school safety and preparation for college. School Committee member Franklin Peralta said members and education advocates had been seeking such benchmarks and would review them as needed.

Wu highlighted a record-high high school graduation rate last school year and a double-digit decline in chronic absenteeism compared with 2022, the post-pandemic baseline she cited. She also said Boston third graders’ reading results have ranked at the top of a group of urban districts for each of the past six years.

But state test results show continuing challenges. In this spring’s MCAS assessments, 29% of Boston students in grades 3 through 8 met state proficiency standards in reading and math, compared with 40% statewide. Superintendent Mary Skipper said the district was not satisfied with those results and wants all students to reach proficiency.

Boston Public Schools serves about 45,000 students. Roughly 45% are Hispanic and about one-third are Black. Enrollment has declined over the past decade, prompting school closures and mergers.

Wu also said five more schools will become community hubs next fall, bringing the total to 25. The schools connect families with resources such as food pantries and English classes for parents; the new hubs will provide full before- and after-school care.

The address included questions from students about federal immigration policy and the district’s approach to artificial intelligence. Boston Latin School senior Bridget Blair said she wanted to hear more about a planned teacher-ambassador program to teach AI literacy to middle school students. She said some students and teachers worry the district is moving too quickly and has not sufficiently considered risks, particularly as some schools restrict student AI use.

The district has also proposed banning cellphones and other electronic devices, including smartwatches, in schools starting next school year. The School Committee is expected to vote on that proposal in early 2027.