South School Reaches Level One; West School Moves Up

Stoughton's South School has reached Level 1 in the MCAS standards, while the West School went from being a Level 3 to a Level 2  after the latest scores were released by the state.

"I'm proud as a peacock," said principal Maureen Mulvey, who has been the principal for four years and in the district for 13 years. "It's a peak of a career."

South went from being a Level 2 to 1 this year. Mulvey credited the student council, parents and her staff for reaching the highest level.

Superintendent Marguerite Rizzi was pleased with the news out of the South and West schools. She said she is going through the data from the state to analyze the scores from all the schools. 

"The West School had been a concern," she said. "It's a great tribute to work being done. The South School scored at Level 1 and there's only a small percent of schools there."

Rizzi said she was still going over all the information. 

"I haven't had a chance to digest all of the data," she said. 

Mulvey said professional development, instructional coaching and parental involvement were all keys to the school moving up a level. She stresses everyone being involved in teaching and jumping in where they are needed.

"There is no standing around," she said. "Everyone is always working with the students."

"You've done a heck of a job," said School Committee member Dr. Carol Brown, praising the school for giving the teachers help in the classroom. "It's important to let them know they are being supported."

West School principal Margaret Morgan said one of the keys to improvement was changing the school culture, stressing respect for the school, other students and for themselves. The school has "Happy Fridays," where the school wears orange, and school spirit is stressed.

"This was a joint effort," said Morgan, who is in her second year at the school after being a middle school principal. "(If it wasn't) this wouldn't have happened."

Morgan said there has been an increase in respect around the school, including no writing on the walls and showing more pride.

"We're not hearing our students can't do it anymore," she said.