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Reported by us | Taunton

Taunton's Galligan and New Bedford's Winslow named 2026 state Schools of Recognition

The state honors schools for progress toward their accountability targets, with an emphasis on English and math. Galligan is planning celebrations for students, staff and families, and 15 Taunton students earned a combined 18 perfect scores on this spring's MCAS.

By the SC360 Schools Desk | Published Oct. 30, 2026 | Last verified Oct. 30, 2026, 3:10 a.m. ET

TAUNTON Two South Coast elementary schools, Taunton's Harold H. Galligan Elementary School and New Bedford's Betsey B. Winslow Elementary School, are on the state's list of 2026 Schools of Recognition, and Taunton is also celebrating 15 students who earned perfect scores on this spring's MCAS tests.

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education named 56 Schools of Recognition this year. The department gives the designation to a small number of schools that "demonstrate progress toward annual accountability targets," with an emphasis on improved achievement in English language arts and math. Its list, last updated Oct. 20, also names two National ESEA Distinguished Schools, Bridge Boston Charter School and Lowell's Kathryn P. Stoklosa Middle School.

Galligan and Winslow are the only schools from South Coast districts on the 2026 list. The 2025 list had two others from the region, Fairhaven's Leroy Wood and Somerset's North Elementary.

What it means at Galligan

Superintendent John J. Cabral called the designation "a tremendous accomplishment for Galligan, Taunton Public Schools, and the City of Taunton" in his report for the School Committee's Oct. 21 meeting. He congratulated Principal Tara Gagnon and the school's "outstanding educators, support staff, students, and families."

Cabral pointed to who the school serves. Citing state data for the 2025-26 school year, he wrote that 81.8% of Galligan's students are classified as high needs, 72.9% come from low-income households, 18.8% are English learners and 14.4% are students with disabilities. "Students' circumstances must never set the ceiling for their success," he wrote.

In an Oct. 9 letter to caregivers on the spring results, the district said Galligan, James L. Mulcahey Elementary School and East Taunton Elementary School "made substantial progress toward their state improvement goals," which weigh academic results, student progress, attendance and progress in learning English. Galligan and Mulcahey improved in English language arts and math, and East Taunton improved in math, the letter said.

Cabral told the committee in an Oct. 15 memo that he and Gagnon are planning recognition for Galligan's fourth-graders, its third- and fourth-grade teachers, all of the school's staff and its students in kindergarten through third grade, along with a community event for fourth-graders and their families. The district will share details once plans are final, the memo said.

15 students, 18 perfect scores

Fifteen Taunton students earned a combined 18 perfect scores on the 2026 MCAS, nine in English language arts, eight in math and one in science, Cabral's report said. Three of them had perfect scores in both English and math. For three of the honorees, this year's scores add to earlier ones: two have now earned a perfect score three times, and a third has done it twice.

The honorees come from eight schools: four each from Elizabeth Pole Elementary School and Benjamin A. Friedman Middle School, two from Joseph H. Martin Middle School, and one each from John F. Parker Middle School, Mulcahey, Edmund Hatch Bennett School, East Taunton Elementary and Taunton High School. Cabral wrote that he plans to honor them with their families and teachers at a future School Committee Recognition Night.

District results

Across grades 3 to 8, 29% of Taunton students met or exceeded expectations in English language arts this spring, compared with 30% in 2025, and 23% did so in math, the same as last year, the district told caregivers. Statewide, the shares were 40% in English and 41% in math. The district said helping more students reach grade-level expectations remains a priority, and it named one-to-one reading tutoring through Ignite Reading and small-group reading and math instruction among its current supports.

Every South Coast district's 2026 results are in SC360's district-by-district MCAS story.

Winslow in New Bedford

Betsey B. Winslow is one of New Bedford's elementary schools and serves kindergarten through fifth grade. It is the only New Bedford school on this year's state list. Suzie Oliveira is its principal, and the school is at 561 Allen St., 508-997-4511, ext. 59550.

What's next

The Taunton School Committee's next regular meeting is Wednesday, Nov. 18, at 6 p.m., after its Finance and Law Subcommittee meets at 5:45 p.m. Families can reach the Taunton Public Schools central office, 215 Harris St., at 508-821-1100, and Galligan, 15 Sheridan St., at 508-821-1295.

Label: Reported by us, from the town's posted records.

Notes

Every fact comes from the state education department's own Schools of Recognition list, Taunton Public Schools' Oct. 9 letter to caregivers, the Taunton School Committee's Oct. 21 packet, the Galligan, Winslow and district home pages, and a Massachusetts School Building Authority memo that lists New Bedford's elementary schools. The 2025 list comes from an Internet Archive copy of the state's page. We read them all on Oct. 30. We checked each date and weekday against a calendar and recounted the perfect scores by subject and school from the packet's table. No student is named.

Corrections

No corrections to this story. If something here is wrong, tell us. Every correction is dated on the story and listed in our public log.

Sources (9)

  1. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, "Schools of Recognition"The 2026 Schools of Recognition list (56 schools, including Taunton's H H Galligan and New Bedford's Betsey B Winslow; no other school from a South Coast district), the two 2026 National ESEA Distinguished Schools and the department's description of the designation. Page last updated Oct. 20, 2026. Read Oct. 30, 2026.
  2. Internet Archive copy of the DESE Schools of Recognition page, captured Oct. 2, 2026The same 56-school 2026 list, then marked last updated Sept. 22, 2026. Read Oct. 30, 2026.
  3. Internet Archive copy of the DESE Schools of Recognition page, captured June 30, 2026The 2025 Schools of Recognition list, with Fairhaven's Leroy Wood and Somerset's North Elementary. Page then marked last updated Nov. 24, 2025. Read Oct. 30, 2026.
  4. Taunton Public Schools, "Spring 2026 MCAS Results: Progress and Priorities," letter to caregivers from Superintendent John J. CabralGalligan, Mulcahey and East Taunton progress; the School of Recognition designation; 15 students with a perfect score; grades 3 to 8 and statewide shares; current supports. Posted Oct. 9, 2026, 10 a.m. Read Oct. 30, 2026.
  5. Taunton School Committee, packet for the Oct. 21, 2026 meetings (82 pages)Agenda item G4 on Galligan; the superintendent's report (pages 67 to 69: the designation, the state data on Galligan's students, the 15 students and 18 perfect scores by subject and school); the Oct. 15 memo on the celebration plans (page 79); upcoming meetings (page 34). Student names in the packet are not used. Read Oct. 30, 2026.
  6. Harold H. Galligan School home pageAddress, 15 Sheridan St., and phone, 508-821-1295; the staff photo used with this story. Read Oct. 30, 2026.
  7. Taunton Public Schools home pageCentral office at 215 Harris Street, 508-821-1100. Read Oct. 30, 2026.
  8. Massachusetts School Building Authority, New Bedford Ashley Elementary School memo for the Oct. 28, 2026 board meetingDistrict information listing Betsey B. Winslow (K-5) among New Bedford's elementary schools. Read Oct. 29 and Oct. 30, 2026.
  9. Winslow Elementary School home page, New Bedford Public SchoolsPrincipal Suzie Oliveira; address, 561 Allen Street, and phone, 508-997-4511, ext. 59550. Read Oct. 30, 2026.

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