Nantucket Schools Now Above National Average in Math

Students in Nantucket are proving that patient, consistent effort pays off in a big way.

The island's public schools now rank above the national median for math achievement at almost every grade level, according to spring 2024 MAP test results. Some grades even reached nearly the 80th percentile, a remarkable turnaround after years of dedicated work.

"This has taken four years for us to get here," said Amanda Bardsley, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning. The district's math transformation shows what happens when schools commit to a program and stick with it long enough to see real results.

The reading news is equally encouraging. Nantucket has historically struggled with reading scores, facing challenges like slow COVID recovery and a large population of students learning English as a second language. But this year brought a breakthrough: all grades except third grade scored near or above the 50th percentile.

That means Nantucket students are now reading at roughly average or above-average levels compared to their peers nationwide. For a district that once lagged significantly behind, this represents substantial progress.

Superintendent Elizabeth Hallett credited the math success to curriculum changes four years ago. She's asking the community to show the same patience with their literacy program, confident it will yield similar results.

The Ripple Effect

The improvements extend beyond test scores. When students succeed academically, it builds confidence that carries into every aspect of their education. Teachers gain momentum from seeing their efforts validated. Parents and community members can feel proud knowing their schools are moving in the right direction.

Bardsley hinted that upcoming MCAS test results, currently under embargo, show continued improvement. The preliminary data "is looking good," she said, suggesting this positive trend isn't a fluke but a sustainable shift.

The Nantucket story offers hope for other districts facing similar challenges. Four years might seem like a long time, but the results prove that consistency and commitment to quality education programs create lasting change.

These students are heading into the new school year with stronger foundations in both math and reading than Nantucket has seen in years.