The Top High Schools in Central MA 2014

Email to a friend Permalink

Saturday, June 21, 2014

Nicholas Handy, GoLocalWorcester Contributor

GoLocalWorcester has released its third Annual Top High Schools in Central Massachusetts based on a propriety ranking of test scores and school data for the definitive look at secondary schools in the Commonwealth -- and for 2014, top honors went to Advanced Math and Science Academy Charter School.  

GoLocal spoke with five of the top ten schools to gather insight about the keys to their success. Many of the schools looked to the future, offering their thoughts on what their school needs to do to climb to the top spot on next year’s list. To be one of the top high schools in Central Massachusetts, many factors must come together, including the students, faculty, and the community. 

#3 Westborough High School - Westborough

Westborough High School ranked third in the Central Massachusetts rankings and 26th statewide. The high school currently has a student population of 1,053, serving all of the students from grades 9-12 in the Westborough Public School District.

“I attribute the success of our school to the teachers and students who make teaching and learning a priority,” said Principal Brian Callaghan, of his school’s success. “Both make a huge effort to make connections with each other and the skills and content in the curriculum.”

Callaghan acknowledges the loss of time attributed to keeping up with both state and national testing as one of the biggest hurdles to overcome moving forward. While time may be lost due to these tests, Callaghan states that the school’s curriculum and assessments are helping students to achieve high test scores.

“We have made great strides aligning our curriculum and assessments at each grade level; that is, making sure that every student at each grade level in a subject area receives a guaranteed curriculum,” said Callaghan. “This brings focus to teaching and ensures what is learned is truly relevant to real-world experiences.”

#5 Hopkinton High School - Hopkinton

Ranked fifth in Central Massachusetts and 53rd statewide, Principal Evan Bishop attributes three big areas to the success of his school: committed students, a caring staff, and a supportive community.

“We have a hardworking group of people involved with this school which is helping to move us in the right direction,” said Bishop. “We have a great culture of students and adults which creates a great atmosphere for learning.”

Looking toward the future, Bishop wants to create a less stressful environment for students Hopkinton High. Offering students the occasional homework free weekend or vacation, as well as opportunities to de-stress during the week are all beneficial ways to keeping a student body relaxed.

“There will always be some form of stress in people’s lives, but we want to give students the tools to properly cope,” said Bishop. “We have really tried to focus on the stress levels of out student body because we have noticed that stress levels can be high among our students.”

#6 Groton-Dunstable Regional High School - Groton

Groton-Dunstable Regional High School, located in Groton, took sixth place in the Central Mass. rankings and 62nd overall in the state. The school serves over 800 high school students coming from both the Groton and Dunstable area.

“First and foremost, our success is attributed to the students; they come willing and ready to learn every day,” said Principal Michael Mastrullo. “We pride ourselves on academic competition; we want to push our students so that they can perform to the best of their abilities. We also have a very dedicated faculty that cares deeply about the students and their academics.”

While having a dedicated student body and staff, Mastrullo cites a small budget as a primary concern for the school moving forward. Mastrullo is always looking for ways to improve Groton-Dunstable – including more teacher development and better ways to prepare students for life after high school – but says that the current school culture has been leading the drive.

“This may sound cliché, but this really is a great place to come to work and school,” said Mastrullo. “There is a great culture of mutual respect between the students and the faculty. The students make this school a great place to work every day.”

#7 Tantasqua Regional Senior High School – Fiskdale

Tantasqua Principal Michael Lucas attributes the success of his school – which ranked seventh on the Central Massachusetts list and 63rd on the statewide list – to a hardworking faculty in combination with a dedicated administration, which allows for students to continue to learn and achieve.

“We are very proud of our students,” said Lucas. “We really benefit from having a great and well-rounded community. We have great athletic and performing arts programs, as well as a variety of clubs and activities. We really try to push to find a passion for every student.”

In addition to having many extracurricular options for students to find a hobby or passion, Tantasqua has also expanded their AP course offering and has improved graduation rates.

“We have definitely made a lot of progress in improving graduation rates and assisting students that are designated as ‘at risk’,” said Lucas. “We are currently undergoing a self evaluation so that we can look at everything that we need to improve. We want to work more on academic progress tracking to make sure that our students are continuing to progress.”

#8 Nashoba Regional High School – Bolton

Nashoba Regional High School came in eighth on the Central Massachusetts list and 76th on the statewide list. The regional high school serves over 1,000 students in the cities of Bolton, Lancaster, and Stow.

Parry Graham – who has served as the principal of Nashoba Regional High School since the 2012-2013 school year – attributes the school’s success to the dedication of the teachers, the support of the community, and the hard work and talents of the student body.

“We have put a lot of energy and resources into adding new opportunities for students in the future – from innovative interdisciplinary courses to expanded programming in the arts and computer sciences,” said Graham. “I think that our biggest challenge going forward, as is true in so many high schools, is continuing to make sure that all of our students are able to be successful, no matter their achievement level or post-high school plans.”

To hear from some of the top high schools in Massachusetts, go here.

---

Related Slideshow: Central MA High Schools—2014 Rankings

Related Articles

• Top High Schools: Top Stories in Central Mass in 2012
• MA’s Top High Schools 2012: The Complete List of 1 to 392
• Coming Tuesday: The Top High Schools in Massachusetts 2013
• Methodology: The Top High Schools in Massachusetts 2013
• In Case You Missed It: Top High Schools in Massachusetts 2013
• The Top High Schools in Massachusetts 2012: An Overview of the Study
• The Link Between Home Values + Schools—MA’s Top High Schools 2013
• Reaction to Top High Schools in Central Massachusetts 2013
• Methodology: MA’s Top High Schools 2014
• The Top High Schools in Central Massachusetts 2013
• The Top High Schools in Massachusetts 2013
• Coming Tuesday: The Top High Schools in Central MA 2014
• The Top High Schools in Massachusetts 2014
• See Central MA’s Top High Schools for 2014
• The Top High Schools in Central MA 2014
• See MA’s Top High Schools for 2014
• CHART: Massachusetts’ Top High Schools 2014 From #1 to #332
• CHART: Massachusetts’ Top High Schools 2013 From #1 to #344
• MA’s Top High Schools 2012: The Breakdown of 1 to 392 Individual Scores
• MA’s Top High Schools 2012: The Link Between Schools and Home Values
• Top High School Athletes recognized by Cox RI Sports Awards
• RI Favorites - Top High Schools
• Central MA’s Top High Schools 2012: How We Got the Rankings

Enjoy this post? Share it with others.

Email to a friend Permalink