Peabody Learning Academy Celebrates Class of 2024

PEABODY, MA — A unique collaboration between Peabody Public Schools and Simon Malls celebrated the graduation of its class of 2024 with a ceremony at the Northshore Mall on Friday.

The Peabody Learning Academy is part of the Simon Youth Foundation, a nonprofit that partners with local public school districts on Simon Youth Academies that provide personalized support for students at risk of dropping out.

Simon Properties said that since 1990 the Youth Academies have maintained a 90 percent high school graduation rate.

Peabody school and city officials and State Rep. Thomas Walsh attended the ceremony, which included a keynote address from former Northshore Mall general manager Mark Whiting, who was involved with the Simon Youth Foundation for many years.

The ceremony was held at the lower level Nordstrom Wing of the mall on Andover Street.

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