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Schools
New Report Ranks These High Schools As Franklin County’s Best New Report Ranks These High Schools As Franklin County’s Best
New Report Ranks These High Schools As Franklin County’s Best As the back-to-school season settles into full swing, the community and school ranking site Niche named these Massachusetts schools as the best in the area. The 2023 “Best Public High Schools in Franklin County” list, released by ranking site Niche, evaluated institutions in the area and based on categories such as academics, diversity, and more, declared the following as the best of the best: No. 1 - Frontier Regional School No. 2 - Four Rivers Charter Public School No. 3 - Turners Fall High School  No. 4 - Greenfield High School No. 5 - Mohawk Trail Regional High School …

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by Sophie Grieser
Schools
Top Honors: These Massachusetts Schools Recipients Of Prestigious National Blue Ribbon Award Top Honors: These Massachusetts Schools Recipients Of Prestigious National Blue Ribbon Award
Top Honors: These Massachusetts Schools Recipients Of Prestigious National Blue Ribbon Award When it comes to overall excellence, these Massachusetts schools are at the top of the class, and they have the hardware to prove it. Seven schools in the Bay State are among just 353 across the country to receive the prestigious National Blue Ribbon Award from the US Department of Education. The annual awards recognize high-performing public and non-public schools, as well as those making strides in closing “achievement gaps” among student groups. “Their leaders not only articulate a vision of excellence and hold everyone to high standards, they stay close to the real action of teaching a…

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by Michael Mashburn
Schools
These 7 Mass Liberal Arts Colleges Rank Among Top 20 In US, New Report Says These 7 Mass Liberal Arts Colleges Rank Among Top 20 In US, New Report Says
These 7 Mass Liberal Arts Colleges Rank Among Top 20 In US, New Report Says The grades are in, and these colleges are a cut above the rest. Of the top 20 liberal arts colleges in the United States, four can be found in Massachusetts, three in New York, and one in Connecticut, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2023 National Liberal Arts Colleges Rankings. They are: No. 1 - Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts No. 2 - Amherst College in Amherst, Massachusetts No. 4 - Wellesley College in Wellesley, Massachusetts (Tied with Pomona College in Claremont, California and Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania) No. 8 - United States Military …

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by Michael Mashburn
Schools
These School Districts Ranked Top 5 In Hampshire County, Report Says These School Districts Ranked Top 5 In Hampshire County, Report Says
These School Districts Ranked Top 5 In Hampshire County, Report Says The grades are in, and these school districts are a cut above the rest, according to the community and school ranking site Niche. After considering several key areas, the following were ranked in the website’s 2023 “Best Public School Districts in Hampshire County” report: No. 1 - Amherst-Pelham Regional School District No. 2 - Northampton Public Schools No. 3 - Hadley Public Schools No. 4 - South Hadley Public Schools No. 5 - Belchertown Public Schools All five districts earned high overall grades, with Amherst-Pelham and Northampton receiving A’s. The remaining districts each hold an ove…

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by Michael Mashburn
Schools
These High Schools Ranked Top 5 In Worcester County, Report Says These High Schools Ranked Top 5 In Worcester County, Report Says
These High Schools Ranked Top 5 In Worcester County, Report Says The grades are in, and these high schools are a cut above the rest, according to the community and school ranking site Niche. After considering several key areas, the following schools were ranked in the website’s 2023 “Best Public High Schools in Worcester County” report: No. 1 - Massachusetts Academy of Math & Science in Worcester No. 2 - Westborough High School No. 3 - The Bromfield School in Harvard No. 4 - Shrewsbury Senior High School No. 5 - Algonquin Regional High School in Northborough All five high schools earned an overall grade of A+, receiving top marks in the academics, t…

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by Michael Mashburn
Schools
These School Districts Rank Best In Massachusetts, Report Says These School Districts Rank Best In Massachusetts, Report Says
These School Districts Rank Best In Massachusetts, Report Says Top-performing students are not the only ones getting A+ grades after a report ranked Massachusetts school districts to find out who is best in class. Massachusetts school districts were graded on criteria that include academics, diversity, and administration, and 26 Massachusetts received an A+ grade, according to the community and school ranking site Niche. The Weston Public School District, in Middlesex County, received the highest rating in the state, coming in at the number one position in Massachusetts. It received perfect scores for academics, college prep, and resources and fac…

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by Morgan Gonzales
Schools
Western Mass School Staffer On Leave Over Misconduct Allegations Western Mass School Staffer On Leave Over Misconduct Allegations
Western Mass School Staffer On Leave Over Misconduct Allegations A staff member at Four Rivers Charter Public School in Greenfield was placed on administrative leave last week after being accused of misconduct, a letter from administrators said.  Four Rivers Principal Jenni Manfredi sent a letter to parents on Friday, June 16, to alert them to the investigation. She noted that everyone affected had been notified, but Manfredi stopped short of detailing the allegations against the staffer.  We recently received a report regarding alleged misconduct involving a Four Rivers staff member. Upon receiving the report, impacted families were contacted,…

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by Josh Lanier
Schools
Razor Blade: 12-Year-Old Slashes 11-Year-Old Boy's Hand In Fight At Central Mass Middle School Razor Blade: 12-Year-Old Slashes 11-Year-Old Boy's Hand In Fight At Central Mass Middle School
Razor Blade: 12-Year-Old Slashes 11-Year-Old Boy's Hand In Fight At Central Mass Middle School An 11-year-old middle school student in Worcester County needed stitches after a classmate slashed his hand open with a razor blade during a fight at the school on Thursday morning, May 25.  Blackstone police said the fight broke out at Frederick W. Hartnett Middle School between the 11-year-old boy and a 12-year-old boy around 8:30 a.m. It's unclear what sparked the disagreement.  When the school resource officer arrived, they learned the older boy had snuck a razor blade to school and used it during the fight to slice open his opponent's hand, Blackstone police said. The bo…

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by Josh Lanier
Schools
Fitchburg High Students Return To Class After Threat Investigation (UPDATE) Fitchburg High Students Return To Class After Threat Investigation (UPDATE)
Fitchburg High Students Return To Class After Threat Investigation (Update) UPDATE: Fitchburg high officials say the police and fire firefighters cleared students to return to class after investigating threats made at the school.  pic.twitter.com/4AX4RPdTrC — Fitchburg Schools (@FitchburgPS) May 17, 2023 --------------- Officials began evacuating Fitchburg High School on Wednesday afternoon, May 17, after they received threats to the school, authorities said in a social media post.  Related: Fitchburg High Put On Lockdown Over Fake Gun In April They did not describe the nature of the threat or when it came in. Calls for information were not immediately retur…

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by Josh Lanier
Schools
Lockdown Lifted At Central Mass High School After Fake Gun Threat: Officials Lockdown Lifted At Central Mass High School After Fake Gun Threat: Officials
Lockdown Lifted At Central Mass High School After Fake Gun Threat: Officials An unfounded weapons threat sent a Central Massachusetts high school into lockdown on Wednesday morning, April 5, according to the school district.  Fitchburg High School was placed on lockdown around 11 a.m. after staff learned that someone had possibly brought a gun to school, the Fitchburg Public Schools said on Facebook. Fitchburg High School is currently in lockdown due to the potential threat of a weapon in school. School and police... Posted by Fitchburg Public Schools on Wednesday, April 5, 2023 First responders were called to the building, located at 140 Arnhow Farm Road in …

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by David Cifarelli
Schools
Gum Spicier Than Pepper Spray Sends 6 Western Mass Students To Hospitals Gum Spicier Than Pepper Spray Sends 6 Western Mass Students To Hospitals
Gum Spicier Than Pepper Spray Sends 6 Western Mass Students To Hospitals Six elementary school students from Western Massachusetts were taken to local hospitals after ingesting or coming in contact with a spicy gum product this week, according to officials.  A student who bought the gum online shared it with other students during recess at Dexter Park School in Orange on Tuesday, April 4, Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Teahan-Zielinski reports. "The product contained levels of pepper, which, when some students ingested it, caused digestive issues, including burning in the mouth and esophagus," she said.  "Additionally, students who accepted the product but did n…

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by David Cifarelli
Schools
Threatening School Shooting: Western Mass Man Held Without Bail After Causing Lockdown, DA Says Threatening School Shooting: Western Mass Man Held Without Bail After Causing Lockdown, DA Says
Threatening School Shooting: Western Mass Man Held Without Bail After Causing Lockdown, DA Says A 46-year-old Northfield man is being held without bail after he allegedly threatened a school shooting on Friday, March 24, authorities said. The threat caused administrators at Northfield Elementary School to lock down the building and order students and teachers to shelter in place.  Theodore R. Sweeney Jr. is charged with threatening to commit a school shooting, two counts of threatening to commit a crime, and disturbing the peace, the Northwestern District Attorney's Office said. Sweeney pleaded not guilty to the charges.  Officials did not say how the threat w…

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by Josh Lanier