New Bedford High Sees Record Graduation and AP Success

NEW BEDFORD (WBSM) — In what is being called “success at a historic scale,” New Bedford High School is touting its graduation rate and other impressive statistics recently released by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).

Graduation Rate Reaches Historic Levels

According to the data, New Bedford High’s four-year cohort graduation rate was 87.3 percent, achieved across what a release called “an unprecedented scale” of 543 students.

“That’s success at a historic scale,” Superintendent Andrew O’Leary said. “We also see historic gains in subgroups, especially for students on IEPs (Individualized Education Programs).”

“An 87 percent graduation rate while serving our largest cohort in decades speaks to the relentless dedication of our educators and the resilience of our students,” NBH Principal Joyce Cardoza said. “This is what it looks like when opportunity, high expectations, and support come together at scale, and we are just getting started.”

Advanced Placement Participation Hits Record High

Superintendent O’Leary also pointed out that this graduation rate did not come at the expense of a rigorous curriculum.

“The question is often asked, Are more students achieving at a higher academic level? Yes,” he said. “This graduation milestone comes right alongside a record 400-plus Advanced Placement participants, scoring a record high percentage of 3-5 scores,” he said. Advanced Placement tests at the end of a course are graded 1 to 5, with five being the highest and a 3 or above considered a “pass.”

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Students Meeting Academic Benchmarks Early

“Plus, this Whaler Class of 2025 had already largely met MCAS competency prior to the recent ballot and policy change,” O’Leary said. “So across multiple measures, we see the same gains in achievement.”

O’Leary also said that “school choice from out-of-town is up, Early College participation is in the hundreds, all while we see more career and vocational growth, and a record number of college acceptances.”

Educators Credited for Continued Success

He gave credit to school staff for the success.

“New Bedford High School educators make the difference,” O’Leary said. “At New Bedford High School, we see early removal of barriers to learning, assurance of real college academic standards, student counseling and support, all while free college and vocational courses have grown significantly.”