When Education Secretary McMahon Came To Town
- Jun 3
- 5 min read
The “Returning Education to the States Tour” is a nationwide, 50-state initiative led by U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. The tour highlights local educational successes, gathers community best practices, and promotes the shifting of educational decision-making and funding authority back to state and local governments.
Regardless of how one feels about the current administration, if the Secretary of Education, a person of great influence, wants to visit your state to see excellent schools, it would be foolish not to extend an invitation if you really care about improving students’ educational outcomes. Parents Unite was asked to identify some high-performing schools suitable for a visit by Secretary McMahon, in Massachusetts, a state that doesn’t allow for school choice (except for those who can afford it).
We suggested Lumen Academy, a new (non-ideological, non-political) school we wanted to showcase. However, Lumen canceled at the last minute, likely due to threats of a protest led by the Massachusetts Education Justice Alliance and the Massachusetts Teachers Association.
It is disappointing but not surprising that under the guise of educational justice, they would try to shut down a visit from someone who doesn’t tow their party line. While the Massachusetts Education Justice Alliance preaches educational equity at all costs, a recent article—“While teachers unions push politics, reading scores hit historic lows”—highlights why parents want more education options beyond public schools. When parents have a choice, they will choose excellence, which is why so many public schools are losing students.
This cancellation turned out to be a blessing in disguise, allowing the Secretary to visit Mystic Valley Regional Charter School—a school located in Malden, MA that has been doing incredible work for decades. Mystic Valley does not have activist teachers, which could be seen as a direct threat to the protesters and to the MTA (whose new vice president, Deb Gesualdo, also ironically serves as President of the Malden Education Association and teaches in Malden Public Schools).
After touring the school, observing and engaging with teachers and students (who seemed excited by her presence), McMahon hosted a substantive roundtable discussion during which participants shared their concerns. Secretary McMahon listened, asked thoughtful questions, and took notes.
Mystic Valley is a K-12 school that has the following qualities/outcomes:
Mission: Provide the opportunity of a world-class education characterized by a well-mannered, disciplined, and structured academic climate. Central to the academic environment is the incorporation of selected core virtues and the fundamental ideals of our American Culture, which are embodied in the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution.
Character education is the first class taught each school day in all grades. Core virtues, important civic-oriented values, and positive character traits are major objectives of the K-12 curriculum.
All students are required to complete 40 hours of community service in grades 9, 10, and 11, and 30 hours in their senior year.
The Student Action Program provides after-school opportunities for hundreds of younger students. This program, comprised of older students, conducts after-school programs and clinics in lacrosse, basketball, floor hockey, art, and swimming for elementary students. Students involved in the Action Service program also provide tutoring sessions for many of the younger students. Additionally, along with members of the school’s Key Club, these hardworking students reach out to senior citizens in the area.
Ability-based instructional groups based on placement standards in Reading and Math are established and consistently monitored.
Students receive more than 3 additional years of academic learning time (K-12) than their peers in traditional public and private schools, thanks to an extended school day (from 8:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m) and year (200 days).
Serves a highly diverse student body: 70% minority (35.6% Asian, 16.0% Black, and 13.8% Hispanic), and 30% White. (There are 58 home languages among the approximately 1,800 students, 53% of students whose first language is not English)
The attrition rate is 8.8%, compared with 20.5% for the weighted average of its sending districts.
Parent demand is overwhelming. The school typically receives roughly 500 kindergarten applications for about 100 available seats after sibling preference.
How does Mystic Valley perform?
It is perennially ranked among the top-tier schools in Massachusetts and the country.
2026 U.S. News & World Report Ranking:
#198 nationally
Overall score: 98.89 out of 100
Top 1% of high schools nationally
IB Participation
100% IB participation in each of the last two years
Academic opportunities not reserved for only a small subset of students.
2024 Grade 10 Results:
ELA: 97% meeting or exceeding expectations
Math: 89% meeting or exceeding expectations
Science: 86% meeting or exceeding expectations
Based on the combined average across Grade 10 ELA, math, and science, this cohort ranked #1 among public districts statewide.
Demographics of this class: 37% White, 30% Asian, 24% black
The Class of 2026 has a 100% graduation rate, a 100% four-year college acceptance rate, an average SAT score of 1211, and an 82% acceptance rate to a Top 100 university. Over 85% of its students have gone on to college since 2022. By comparison, the average for its three largest sending districts is 53%.
Is Mystic Valley Controversial?
Does Mystic Valley Regional Charter School seem “really problematic” as Max Page, MTA President, suggested? Judge for yourself.
This is the first thing people see when they walk through the front door:
Mystic Valley Regional Charter School (MVRCS) is a tuition-free public charter school in Malden, MA, spending $14,600.74 per student, which is 37% ($8,596.0) less than the state average.
Students are admitted by public lottery, not by entrance exam, interview, essay, audition, or special qualification.
Because the school is highly sought after, the state has capped enrollment in its most diverse and largest sending districts for years.
The school has strong academics, serious literacy instruction, a clear school culture of high expectations and accountability, and proven results across student groups. The political attacks against Mystic Valley, which have been going on for years, are intentionally misleading.
The academic program is rigorous, the campus is safe and secure, there is a strong Code of Values, and dedicated, enthusiastic teachers are committed to providing a structured, orderly, and traditional academic environment for students.
Students in the elementary program are taught Language Arts and Reading through Direct Instruction and Mathematics using the Saxon K-8 Math Series. The science and history/geography curricula follow the Core Knowledge Sequence developed by the eminent educator and author, Dr. E. D. Hirsch, and “Great Books” literature in the middle years through early high school (books considered to constitute the foundations of Western culture and the Western canon).
Students wear a school uniform
In the High School, the course of study prepares students for the International Baccalaureate (IB) program.
Mystic Valley is a diverse, high-demand public school where families choose to enroll, students stay, and the school continues to produce exceptionally strong academic results, including for students from historically disadvantaged populations. A strong education is the greatest lever for upward mobility, and Mystic Valley is delivering an education that allows every child to thrive and reach their potential.
While the MTA wants to argue that “It’s disgusting that Secretary McMahon…is using school children as props to promote the privatization of public education,” we see McMahon’s visit to Mystic Valley as an opportunity to highlight the great success of a local charter school that is achieving excellent outcomes for all of its students.
Thank you to Secretary McMahon and her team. We are grateful that you took the time to visit and engage in a very thoughtful and candid roundtable discussion.
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