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Taunton High School

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From the Superintendent: A Strong Start at TPS

Posted Date: 11/09/26 (04:00 PM)
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From the Superintendent: A Strong Start at TPS

Fall 2026 | September and October

Dear Taunton Families, Staff, and Community Partners,

We began this school year with a message to our nearly 8,000 students, their families, and our staff: “We Got You.” As I reflect on September and October, I see that commitment taking shape through early reading support, opportunities to explore life after graduation, and efforts to make our schools welcoming places to learn.
Now in the second year of our Five-Year Strategic Plan, we are focused on three connected goals: helping children become confident readers, giving students opportunities to explore their interests, and ensuring that every senior takes a concrete step toward further education or training.

Our First Grade Promise is that every first grader will read at grade level by June 30, 2027. Teachers assessed all first graders within the first three weeks of school so support could begin early. Ignite Reading tutoring began September 28, building on last year’s results: 93% of participating students who were missing foundational kindergarten reading skills closed those gaps. This year, we are providing 271 tutoring seats, with 30 additional second-grade seats beginning in January. A separate $277,020 grant will strengthen literacy instruction in Grades 4 and 5.
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As students grow, we want them to understand where their learning can lead. Our goal is for every student in Grades 5–7 to participate in My Career and Academic Plan (MyCAP) this school year. Teams at Martin, Parker, and Friedman are working together to help students identify their strengths and explore careers, supported by SchooLinks and Junior Achievement. Students do not need to have their futures figured out; they need opportunities to discover what is possible.
For our seniors, the goal is for every student to apply to Bristol Community College, a Massachusetts state college or university, or a certification program. Taunton High School’s first college and career fair brought representatives directly to students during the school day, reducing transportation and scheduling barriers. Nearly 1,500 students also participate in the school’s 21 career and vocational pathways, while 400 students experience college-level learning through Early College. These opportunities give students more ways to explore their interests and prepare for their next steps.

Making the most of these opportunities starts with being in school. Our districtwide goals are to reach 94.5% attendance and reduce chronic absenteeism to 18.5%. If getting your child to school is becoming difficult, please contact your school so we can understand the barriers and work together to address them.
Our responsibility is to ensure that students find the teaching and support they need when they arrive. To help guide that work, we are developing a Portrait of an Educator and a Portrait of an Administrator, aligned with THS’s Portrait of a Graduate. These portraits will define shared expectations for teaching and leadership, with opportunities for educators and caregivers to provide feedback.
We also have academic accomplishments to celebrate. Galligan Elementary School earned the 2026 Massachusetts School of Recognition designation for its progress toward state accountability targets. Fifteen Taunton students earned a combined 18 perfect scores on the 2026 MCAS assessments. Congratulations to these students, Principal Tara Gagnon and the Galligan community, and the educators and families whose support helped make these accomplishments possible.

Beyond the classroom, students are finding ways to participate, lead, and build friendships. This fall, THS football captains read with second graders at Elizabeth Pole, and Unified Basketball brought students with and without intellectual disabilities together as teammates. Fall athletics recorded 520 student-sport registrations, an increase of about 23% over last year.

We are building connections with families as well. Our first Coffee & Conversation Community Café brought together more than 60 multilingual families, community partners, and teachers. The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education invited TPS to share this work with colleagues across the state.
We are also securing resources to improve learning spaces. Renovations at 2 Hamilton Street continue ahead of Parker Middle School’s planned relocation in fall 2027. The Massachusetts School Building Authority approved an estimated maximum grant of $4.78 million for partial window and door replacement, and the Taunton Cable Advisory Commission approved $800,000 for technology and communications infrastructure. At THS, $600,000 in funding from the City of Taunton supported paving improvements covering one-third of the campus. These funding sources allow us to make substantial improvements without drawing directly from the district’s operating budget. I appreciate the collaboration of Mayor Shaunna O’Connell, the City Council, the School Committee, and our city partners in advancing this work.
Thank you to our staff, families, and community partners for helping turn our commitments into daily support for students. We have ambitious goals and substantial work ahead. As we continue, “We Got You” must remain a promise students and families can see in our actions.

With gratitude and Taunton pride,

John J. Cabral
Superintendent, Taunton Public Schools
 

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