LAKEVILLE — The Healey-Driscoll Administration kicked off its K-12 Statewide Graduation Council Road Show this week with visits to Waltham High School and Apponequet Regional High School in Lakeville, highlighting how schools across Massachusetts are preparing students for success after graduation and putting the Council’s recommendations into action.
The road show will spotlight high schools across the state that are advancing the Council’s vision, raise awareness of its recommended graduation requirements, and hear directly from students and educators about what it will take to fully implement the recommendations and strengthen the high school experience.
“Every student in Massachusetts deserves a high school education that prepares them for success, no matter what path they choose after graduation,” said Governor Maura Healey. “That’s why we brought together students, educators, families, and employers to develop recommendations that raise academic standards and expand opportunities for real-world learning. Now, we’re visiting schools that are already doing this work to see what’s working, hear directly from students and educators, and learn how we can strengthen the high school experience for students across Massachusetts.”
“Our schools are already finding innovative ways to connect classroom learning with real-world opportunities and help students prepare for their futures,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “This road show is an opportunity to recognize that work, learn directly from students and educators, and identify ways to bring these opportunities to more students across Massachusetts.”
On Tuesday, Secretary of Education Steve Zrike and Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez joined students and educators at Waltham High School, where they explored career technical education programs, including Culinary Arts and Health Assisting, and observed Advanced Placement classes in Biology and Computer Science. These programs reflect the Graduation Council’s vision for a high school experience that combines rigorous academics with hands-on, career-connected learning to prepare students for success after graduation. Zrike and Martinez also heard directly from students and educators about what students should learn and demonstrate to earn a high school diploma in Massachusetts.
“Strengthening the high school experience starts with listening to the people who know it best: our students and educators,” said Education Secretary Steve Zrike. “These visits allow us to see the Council’s recommendations in action, learn from innovative programs and hear directly from school communities about what students need to succeed beyond graduation.”
“This road show allows us to see what districts are already doing aligned with the recommended graduation requirements,” said Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez. “I’m eager to see students engaging in work that is rigorous and career-connected, and I’m also eager to hear from teachers and students about why they value this type of learning and the best ways of implementing it.”
On Friday, Secretary Zrike visited Apponequet Regional High School (ARHS), which has embraced MassCore, a recommended program of study that meets Massachusetts public higher education admissions requirements and is associated with stronger postsecondary outcomes. The school is also strengthening its use of My Career and Academic Plan (MyCAP), which helps students connect their coursework and high school experiences to their interests and goals after graduation. Apponequet has implemented Innovation Career Pathways in two industry sectors: Business and Finance and Health Care and Social Assistance Health Care. These pathways help students explore career opportunities and build skills aligned with their future education and employment goals.
“Apponequet Regional High School is a prime example of the Commonwealth’s K-12 Graduation Council’s recommendations in action, giving their students the opportunity to plan for their careers without making them choose between a college-prep focus or practical workforce experience,” said State Representative Steven J. Ouellette (D-8th Bristol).
“We are grateful to Secretary Zrike for visiting ARHS. We are embracing the recommended graduation requirements and seizing the opportunities they present to reimagine high school for our Lakers,” said Freetown-Lakeville Regional School District Superintendent Dr. Barbara Starkie. “Our continued commitment to MassCore, emerging use of MyCAP, and installation of Innovation Career Pathways, as well as our own Laker Pathways, reflect our dedication to making sure every graduate leaves with a well-defined post high school plan. Recognition for our progress belongs to our educators, counselors, families, and community partners who help our students explore their interests and prepare for what comes next. We are appreciative of the grant funding we have received to support this programming. We welcome a follow-up visit from Secretary Zrike, as there will be more to celebrate as these opportunities evolve and expand.”
“We are encouraged by the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s commitment to reimagining the high school experience and, most importantly, ensuring that student voice is central to shaping the future of graduation requirements in Massachusetts,” said Waltham Public School Superintendent Dr. Marisa Mendonsa. “At Waltham High School, we are proud that our comprehensive program of studies already reflects many of the priorities outlined in the Graduation Council’s recommendations, including rigorous academic coursework, career technical education, early college opportunities, and innovative pathways that connect classroom learning to students’ future goals. We recognize that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to preparing students for life after high school, and we welcome the opportunity to partner with the state in advancing graduation requirements that honor students’ diverse interests, strengths, and aspirations while ensuring every graduate is prepared for success.”
Governor Healey established the K-12 Statewide Graduation Council through Executive Order 639 to examine how Massachusetts can strengthen the high school experience and ensure every student is prepared for success after graduation. The Council brought together educators, students, families, higher education leaders, employers, and other stakeholders from across the Commonwealth and released its final recommendations in June 2026.
