Massachusetts
Where does MA rank in public education? A Consumer Affairs study looks at each state
A study by Consumer Affairs found that Massachusetts has the best public schools in the country.
Massachusetts, which ranked first on the Consumer Affairs study, is followed by New York (2), New Jersey (3), Washington State (4) and Pennsylvania (5). The study covered K-12 schools and colleges as well.
The top states for education have a few things in common, according to the study, “including a 90% or higher high school graduation rate, low pupil-to-teacher ratios and high test scores. The majority of these states are also located in the Northeast.”
According to the study, “to determine the states with the best public schools in the U.S., the Consumer Affairs research team compared all 50 U.S. states and Washington, D.C., across four categories: K-12 performance, school funding and resources, higher education quality and safety.”
Why did the study rank Massachusetts at the top
The following are different takeaways about public education in Massachusetts, according to the Consumer Affairs study:
- The state boasts the highest high school graduation rate in the U.S. at 96.1%.
- Massachusetts ties Connecticut for having the highest average ACT score (26.4 out of a highest possible score of 36). The national average is 19.5. ACT tests are standardized tests used for college admissions in the United States.
- Massachusetts has the best fourth-grade reading and eighth-grade math scores in the country on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) tests.
- On average, Massachusetts teachers have the third-highest teaching salary in the country, at $92,307 per year, 33% above the national average.
- The state dedicates $25,826 in expenditures per K-12 student, the fifth-highest in the nation.
How did Massachusetts rank for school safety?
The study noted that the Bay State ranks 34th in the country for school safety.
South Dakota ranked highest in school safety.
According to the study, the safety score is based on three metrics: whether the state has a school safety board as of 2022, the number of gun violence incidents at all schools per 100,000 students from 2022 to 2024 and the number of reported criminal offenses at colleges per 10,000 students in 2022.
What are the top 10 states for public education?
The top 10 states for public education are:
- Massachusetts (1)
- New York (2)
- New Jersey (3)
- Washington (4)
- Pennsylvania (5)
- Vermont (6)
- Minnesota (7)
- Connecticut (8)
- Virginia (9)
- Wisconsin (10)
Which states ranked poorly for public education?
The bottom five states in the study are:
- Arizona (51)
- Alabama (50)
- New Mexico (49)
- Oklahoma (48)
- Idaho (47)
Where do other New England states rank in the study?
Maine is ranked 13th overall, Rhode Island is ranked 15th overall and New Hampshire is ranked 16th overall.
Massachusetts
Massachusetts fire chief facing heat after his private company received $5 million in town contracts
A Bay State fire chief is in the hot seat after his private company received more than $5 million from town contracts, according to the State Ethics Commission.
Townsend Fire Chief Gary Shepherd is accused of violating the state’s conflict of interest law, the Massachusetts commission said on Thursday.
The fire chief allegedly violated state law when he represented his private company in business with the town, and had financial interests in town contracts.
Shepherd, who operates the private company Shepco, Inc., first entered into a $754,333 contract with the town for a bridge replacement project. Then, his company agreed to a $4.7 million contract with the town for a water main project — for a total of about $5.4 million.
The fire chief was reportedly warned by the state before he did business with the town.
“Shepherd entered into the contracts despite having been issued a letter from the Commission’s Enforcement Division raising conflict of interest law concerns,” the Ethics Commission wrote.
Back on Nov. 30, 2022, the Ethics Commission in a letter from the Enforcement Division warned Shepherd that he needed a conflict of interest law exemption to contract with the town. The Commission also and told him how to comply with the law.
Shepherd was also told to contact the Commission’s Legal Division whenever he considered contracting with the town. The Enforcement Division alleges that Shepherd did not take any action in response to the letter.
The first contract was in December 2022, and the second project was in March 2023.
“The conflict of interest law prohibits municipal employees from having a financial interest in a contract made by the municipality they serve,” the Ethics Commission wrote. “The law also prohibits municipal employees from acting as agent for or being paid by anyone other than the municipality in relation to a matter in which the municipality is a party or has a direct and substantial interest.
“The Order alleges that Shepherd violated these prohibitions by having a financial interest in the contracts for the bridge replacement and water main projects, by acting on behalf of Shepco in relation to those contracts, and by receiving payments through Shepco’s work on those contracts,” the commission added.
The Ethics Commission can impose a civil penalty of up to $10,000 for each violation of the conflict of interest law.
The Enforcement Division will give him the opportunity to resolve the matter through a disposition agreement. The commission plans to schedule a public hearing on the allegations against Shepherd within 90 days.
Firefighters rushed into a burning barn in Attleboro, Massachusetts on Wednesday to save horses trapped inside. It happened around 4 p.m. at a property located on Cumberland Street.
Video from Skyeye showed smoke pouring out of the roof of the barn which was one of a few that sat on the same property. The deputy fire chief told WBZ the building was fully engulfed in flames when they arrived as some of their ranks entered the barn to try and save the animals.
“They had to tend with some exposure problems, but they were able to contain the fire probably within about 20 minutes,” said Attleboro Fire Deputy Chief Dennis Perkins.
“Prevented a much greater tragedy”
One horse died in the fire, but multiple animals were rescued by firefighters before conditions deteriorated.
“The quick, coordinated actions of our crews under very difficult conditions prevented a much greater tragedy,” said District Chief Michael Maitland. “Their determination and teamwork saved not only the home but also several animals.”
The barn is off Route 123 in Attleboro, close to the Rhode Island border. Getting water to the fire was a struggle to start.
“We had some early issues with water,” Deputy Chief Perkins said. “The nearest hydrant was probably about 400 feet away, but we were able to overcome it, we sent a lot of resources to the fire right away.”
Once the fire was under control, crews using a skid steer loader to empty the barn of burning materials like hay. Firefighters were able to keep the fire from spreading to other barns on the property and nearby homes in the neighborhood.
Crews remained on scene for several hours to extinguish hot spots. No residents or firefighters were injured as a result of the fire.
Attleboro is a city in Bristol County about 40 miles south of Boston.
Massachusetts
South Coast representatives introduce bill to tackle street takeovers in Massachusetts
(WJAR) — A Bristol County representative joined the fight to crackdown on the illegal street takeovers in Massachusetts.
From Boston to Fall River, the scenes have blocked busy roads and led to dozens of arrests.
A new bill introduced by Dartmouth Rep. Christopher Markey aims to deter the emerging problem.
Two Rhode Island men were arrested early Sunday morning in Boston in an incident where over 100 individuals attacked marked Boston police cruisers. (External Affairs Porter)
The legislation would allow law enforcement to seize the bikes and cars involved.
It would also add penalties for those wearing masks.
“The penalty of two and half years in the house of correction potential for a $500 fine and then also seizure of the vehicle,” Barnstable Rep. Steven Xiarhos said. “I suggest that we put together in this bill that disorderly and disturbing the peace would have an enhanced penalty if you have a mask while doing it.”
Representatives are also pushing for increased fines and even jail sentences for spectators.
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