Shrewsbury Education Makes the Grade
by Maribeth Lynch, Thrive Real Estate Specialists
Last month, just before students around the country headed back to school, Newsweek published a list of this year’s top public high schools in the U.S. The magazine collected data about which schools turn out students who are best prepared for college, assessing variables such as graduation rates, test scores, percentage of students bound for college following high school, and school poverty rates.
Newsweek partnered with research firm Westat to collect information from more than 16,200 schools around the country before coming up with a “short list” of about 4,800 schools with the highest levels of college readiness. The magazine’s final cut included only the top 500 public high schools around the nation. I’m proud to say that a number of high schools in Massachusetts made the list. And of that top 500, Shrewsbury High School was ranked 128.
With a student retention rate of 99% and a graduation rate of 98.7%, Newsweek reports that 96.2% of students who graduate from Shrewsbury High School are bound for college.
As the parent of three Shrewsbury High School graduates, I am delighted to learn just how top-notch Shrewsbury education is considered on a nationwide scale. Shrewsbury High’s ranking on this list sends the message that Shrewsbury values education, invests in our students’ learning, and provides a pathway to continuing education at the college level.
As icing on the cake, I did a little comparison to check into the value of that quality education that Shrewsbury students receive. There were seven Massachusetts towns with high schools ranking above Shrewsbury High on Newsweek’s list. The average tax bills for those towns are as follows:
Dover: $13,295 (#16)
Medfield: $9,954 (#52)
Weston: $17,832 (#54)
Newton: $10,091(#67)
Westwood: $9,999 (#75)
Hopkinton: $8,885 (#93)
Hingham: $8,679 (#115)
Meanwhile, the average Shrewsbury tax bill is an astonishing $5,030 – dramatically lower than all of the other high schools in the state with high rankings. For the money that Shrewsbury homeowners are paying, the quality of the education that Shrewsbury students receive is second to none. Shrewsbury’s talented educators are able to do less with more, and it reflects on a national level. Kudos to all of those who are involved in managing our town’s budget – these results don’t occur without a high degree of attention to every detail.
To me, nothing says community commitment better than the quality of a town’s education. A dedication to education results in critical thinkers – the young adults who cultivate a passion for changing the face of the future, and who are ultimately the achievers of the next generation.
Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” And we’re fostering that motivation to change the world right here in Shrewsbury.
To read the full article visit: http://www.newsweek.com/high-schools/americas-top-high-schools-2015
To learn more about the Shrewsbury school system click here.
To learn more about buying a home in Shrewsbury Ma, give Maribeth a call/text at 508-641-9323 or email her at maribeth@thriverealtors.com
Click here to start searching for homes for sale in Shrewsbury MA
“Anthony’s advice and assurances during these times helped us achieve another record-breaking year, states Maribeth Lynch, Founder of Thrive Real Estate and Lamacchia Realty REALTOR®.
“When the opportunity to merge with Lamacchia arose, the timing was perfect. We knew both our clients and agents would benefit from this partnership, allowing everyone to THRIVE. Having gotten to know the leadership team at Lamacchia has made our decision to merge with them an easy one. Our values are very much aligned, and we know that offering their robust marketing and training will benefit both our clients as well as our beloved agents.”
Along with Maribeth and Rick, five REALTORS® will join Lamacchia Realty, including
Briana Willander,
Ashley Davidson,
Whitney Andrews,
Mike Andrews, and
Tracey Calo. REALTORS® of Thrive are like-minded professionals who work in unison and pride themselves on local knowledge and creative problem-solving, all for the benefit of clients.
As the broker-owner of Thrive Real Estate Specialists, Maribeth has been and will continue to be devoted to serving both her clients and her community with integrity, sincerity, and a can-do attitude. Her firm welcomes opportunities to give back and be charitable in meaningful ways and Maribeth believes in the importance of service. The Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women selected her as a 2022 recipient of The Commonwealth Heroes Award, and she was a 2021 recipient of the Gratitude Project Award from the Massachusetts Association of REALTORS®.
“We are so happy to have Maribeth, Rick, and the rest of the Thrive group joining forces with the company, states Jackie Louh, Chief Operating Officer, Lamacchia Realty. “Maribeth is a well-known and respected Broker in Worcester County, and we are honored that she chose Lamacchia. We are excited to grow even more in that area and Maribeth is the perfect person to help us do just that!”
Maribeth along with the REALTORS® at Thrive Real Estate has been involved with many organizations over the years, most recently: REALTOR® Association of Central Mass- Committee Chairman, Broker/Owner Task Force, REALTOR® Association of Central Massachusetts- Board of Directors 2025, Shrewsbury Zoning Board of Appeals, Chairman, Shrewsbury Town Center Association, Founding Member, Shrewsbury Yuletide/Light the Commons, Committee Member, among many more. In addition to being involved, they also advertise and support the College of the Holy Cross where Thrive is prominently displayed on scoreboards and other places.
Lamacchia Realty’s already very aggressive marketing campaign in the region will dramatically boost the company’s market reach and help add more top-rated REALTORS® to the Shrewsbury office. The marketing plan features billboards on Route 9 and other major roadways, social media posts, postcards, newspaper ads, and much more.
All home buyers, sellers, tenants, landlords, REALTORS®, and other brokerages in the area should know that it is business as usual at the company. There will be no interruptions in service to any clients anywhere. In the weeks to come Lamacchia’s management team and staff will work with Maribeth, Rick, and all the REALTORS® at Thrive who are now Lamacchia Realtors to slowly implement Lamacchia’s suite of lead products, services, training, technology, and more.
This marks Lamacchia Realty’s ninth acquisition in Massachusetts in the past year with the prior acquisitions in Pittsfield with Home Sweet Home Real Estate, Dalton with Berkshire Dream Home, Easton with Briarwood Real Estate, Auburn with Emerson Realtors, Springfield with Sears Real Estate, Falmouth with Foley Real Estate, Fall River with Right Choice Real Estate, and Seekonk with Keystone Property Group. Lamacchia Realty is excited to bring on even more REALTORS® in MetroWest and Central Massachusetts markets in the weeks and months to come.
As a full-service, value-based brokerage, Lamacchia Realty’s mission is to empower its staff, REALTORS®, and clients to achieve success. The company provides unmatched training, systems, and technology, equipping employees with the tools they need to thrive and grow in their roles. Lamacchia Realty takes great pride in its strong culture of support, which has contributed to an impressively high retention rate. Culture is at the heart of the company, with every staff member and agent playing an integral role in maintaining and enhancing it, helping them continue to grow!
