167 Peabody Students Treated For Exemplary MCAS Test Scores

PEABODY, MA — Peabody Public Schools rewarded students who posted exemplary scores in the most recent MCAS tests with a breakfast courtesy of the high school culinary arts program earlier this month.

The breakfast included 167 students from the city's elementary, middle and high schools who achieved "exceeded expectations" on the standardized tests.

The second annual event treated 61 elementary students, 61 middle school students and 45 high school students in grades 9 and 10 to the breakfast on Nov. 9.

The students' families were invited as well.

"It's not often that we have the opportunity to honor students for excellent academic achievement at the beginning of the school year," Superintendent Josh Vadala said. "These breakfast celebrations are important for our students, staff and families to know that we recognize and appreciate their achievements.

"We are incredibly proud of their hard work, especially during times when learning was often fragmented due to the pandemic. With MCAS scores down across the Commonwealth, it makes the achievement of these students even more remarkable."

The breakfast began last year as a way to both celebrate students' success and bring people together following the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pamela LeDuc, the mother of eighth-grader Stella LeDuc, said the difficulties and changes students faced over the last few years made it even more remarkable to see them recognized for exceeding expectations.

"It is wonderful to see your child and other students being recognized and celebrated for their hard work," she said.

The MCAS (Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System) is a statewide standardized testing program that seeks to quantify where districts, schools and students are meeting expectations, as well as where additional support is needed.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)