BArT Charter Public School Named a School of Recognition by DESE

10:37AM / Wednesday, September 30, 2026Print Story | Email Story

ADAMS, Mass.— Berkshire Arts and Technology Charter Public School (BArT) has been named a School of Recognition by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).

As part of its annual accountability reporting process, DESE identifies a small number of schools that demonstrate high achievement, significant growth, and progress toward meeting or exceeding accountability targets.

"This recognition is a reflection of the incredible work happening every day at BART," said Jonathan Igoe, Executive Director. "Our teachers and staff are deeply committed to helping every student reach their potential, and our students continue to show us what they can do when they are challenged, supported, and encouraged to do their best."

Below are several highlights:

10th grade students at BArT earned high growth (SGP above 75) in both ELA and math. 7th and 8th graders also showed strong growth in both ELA and math.
8th grade outcomes were strong. In science and technology, 61 percent of 8th graders met or exceeded expectations – 22 percent above the state average. The percentage of students meeting or exceeding expectations also increased year over year for 8th grade math, science and technology, and civics.
10th grade ELA achievement improved significantly, outperforming state averages. 68 percent of 10th graders at BART met or exceeded expectations on the ELA MCAS.

Additionally, BArT saw progress toward targets on the state's School Accountability Report with a score of 58. The score includes data for attendance, state tests, high school completion, and advanced coursework.

To ensure continued progress and opportunity for BArT students, the school has:

Expanded Advanced Placement (AP) course offerings. BART now offers 12 AP courses, and the number of students taking AP courses doubled just this past year.
Improved communication with families and increased awareness of attendance policies and expectations.
Launched workforce-aligned training and certification programs as part of BArT's high school curriculum, including a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification program and a computer science credential (CompTIA Tech+)

The 2026 Schools of Recognition were identified through DESE's annual school accountability system. This year, they highlighted 56 schools across Massachusetts that demonstrate notable achievement and progress based on the state's accountability measures.

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Notre Dame Church Closed Indefinitely as Diocese Assesses Structural Damage

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:43AM / Wednesday, September 30, 2026

ADAMS, Mass. — What began as concerns over peeling paint inside Notre Dame Church turned out to be a much larger issue, as the church is now closed indefinitely after inspections revealed structural damage, particularly in the steeple.

Notre Dame des Sept Douleurs Catholic Church, located at 21 Maple St., has been taped off and closed since last week as the Diocese of Springfield assesses water damage affecting several areas of the building.

"There are multiple issues ... but the long and short of it is that there's been a water breach in a number of locations at the church, [compromising] some of the structures. The steeple clearly has been negatively impacted by this water breach, and so they're looking at the steeple as one potential major issue," said Mark Dupont, Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield's director of communications.

"A lot of the other ones are not to that level, but taken as a whole, they might be problematic in the long run. This church is well over 100 years old and has served that community with great distinction over the years, but unfortunately, sometimes our past history with these churches is that they quickly become very costly when they start having issues."

The church was built around 1882 to serve the area's French-speaking residents and is one of the two churches part of the St. John Paul II Parish and St. Stanislaus in Adams, Dupont said. The Catholic Parishes of Adams and Cheshire includes St. Mary of the Assumption in Cheshire

Parish staff were concerned about possible water intrusion and hired a structural mason to inspect the steeple and possibly do some repairs. The hired mason found broken beams.

However, the inspection revealed more extensive damage to the steeple than initially anticipated, prompting parish staff to immediately contact the Diocese of Springfield and close the church, Dupont said.

A more comprehensive inspection is now underway to determine the full extent of the damage and what it could mean for the future of the church, he said.

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