Each June for the past five years, HPS leader Anthony Soto has looked forward to sharing details of district accomplishments with families, staff, and community members.
“There’s always so much to celebrate and be grateful for as we look backwards—and to be optimistic about as we look forward,” Mr. Soto said. “This is certainly true this year, as well. But I’m also aware that this is the last end-of-year letter I will write, as I prepare to transition into a different role on July 1, and we welcome Jackie Glasheen as the district’s new superintendent.”
Mr. Soto, who served as the third and final receiver during the 10 years the district was under state receivership, began his district leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Those were incredibly challenging times for everyone, yet we emerged stronger, more resilient, and steadfast in our commitment to continue to improve instruction and outcomes for all students.”
Over the past five years, HPS has systematically strengthened instructional leadership across the district and at every school, he said. “Our instructional vision is dedicated to providing engaging, rigorous instruction that meets diverse needs, fosters a love for learning, and prepares students for future success. Literacy is at the forefront of our efforts, since reading with ease and fluency is a fundamental component of nearly all learning. Holyoke’s graduation rate in 2025 was 80.8%—the highest on record since the state began reporting cohort-based graduation rates in 2006.”
Through it all, Mr. Soto said the district “has been smart with our spending, using our resources to grow programs and improve student outcomes while maintaining jobs that provide stable employment opportunities across the district. We have strategically invested in new curriculum, coaching, and academic intervention—and also in the infrastructure of our schools to improve our learning spaces and properly maintain our buildings.”
The growth and stability accomplished in recent years have been mapped out and driven by the district’s strategic plan, first in 2022 and continually updated as part of the district’s return path to local control.
“We celebrated our return to local governance on July 1, 2025, and we are continuing to move forward,” Mr. Soto said. Here are just a few highlights from the past year:
The district’s three high school campuses continue to graduate more students. The district’s 2024-25 graduation rate was 80.8%—the highest on record. The number of high school students graduating with the Seal of Biliteracy this year is 15, bringing the total number of current and former students who have earned this recognition to 128. Nearly 50 students graduated as part of the Early College Program this year, for a total of more than 450 students since 2019. More than 50% of students in grades 11-12 districtwide are successfully enrolled in advanced coursework.
The district’s instructional vision is being implemented in classrooms and supported through coaching, professional learning, data meetings, and more. This year, more classrooms are seeing an increase in students actively engaged and producing grade-level work. Nearly 90% of classrooms are implementing at least one inclusive practice, which helps to ensure that all students can access the curriculum and learning materials. More than 300 students in grades 1-3 who were reading below grade level have received “high dosage” individualized one-on-one support from trained tutors to help strengthen their foundational reading skills.
HOS students are making progress in English language acquisition. Students are demonstrating strong growth in reading and writing, reflecting the impact of targeted language instruction, inclusive practices, and high expectations for multilingual learners. One way HPS students are receiving support is through the district’s Dual Language English/Spanish program, which serves more than 25% of students in grades PreK-8 and includes more than 50 high school students.
A districtwide focus on wellbeing and belonging is contributing to more people feeling connected to their community and others, helping to foster a strong learning and working environment. This effort is strengthened by our efforts to support students’ social-emotional and mental health through counseling, expanded partnership, a social-emotional learning curriculum, and advisory.
Continued infrastructure investments are improving the learning environment for all students. With support from the MSBA and City Council, HPS is investing $37 million in building improvements this calendar year, including roofing, bathroom renovations, fire alarm upgrade, HVAC upgrades, and more, bringing the 10-year total to $167 million. We also opened the new Peck Middle School and are pursuing renovations or new construction for Lawrence Elementary.
Teacher retention continues to increase as Holyoke continues to evolve to support teachers staying in Holyoke. Almost 83% of Holyoke’s educators who were employed by the district in September 2024 are still working for HPS this school year. The percentage of teachers of color has increased to 33.5%, which is one of the highest in the Commonwealth. In May, Holyoke Public Schools and the Holyoke Teachers Association ratified a new agreement.
Learn more about recent district accomplishments on the HPS website.