Nantucket Schools Must Adopt MassCore by December

School Committee · Meeting of October 6, 2026

Nantucket School Committee began preparing for a state-mandated overhaul of graduation requirements that must take effect for the Class of 2031. Assistant Superintendent Amanda Bardsley and Executive Director of Special Services Deb Gately told the board that Nantucket High School's compliance with the state's MassCore coursework standard fell from 99.3 percent of students in 2023 to 77.1 percent in 2025, and that the district must add an Algebra 2 requirement and a two-year single-language world-language requirement by a December policy vote. Gately said the state's rollout timeline will not accelerate, calling any earlier start "impossible" and joking it would spark "mass protests in the streets." Superintendent Dr.

Beth Hallett reported October enrollment at 1,604 students, down six from September, and said the district's homeschooling population grew to 21 students across 13 families. The committee separately approved a $1,200 school-supply donation from St. Paul's Church and a 2026-2027 teaching assistants' agreement, both by unanimous voice vote.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 3,375 words

Source: the School Committee meeting of October 6, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.