Schools
Peabody Learning Academy Graduates Class of 2026 At Northshore Mall
The Simon Youth Foundation academy at Northshore Mall honored students who earned diplomas through an alternative program.
PEABODY, MA — A group of Peabody high school students walked across a stage Friday and accepted diplomas at the Peabody Learning Academy's Class of 2026 graduation ceremony at Northshore Mall.
The academy is part of the Simon Youth Foundation and is located inside the mall in Peabody.
Sara Talbot, a 2025 Peabody Learning Academy alumna, returned to address the graduating class one year after earning her own diploma.
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Talbot is now working as a kindergarten paraprofessional at Welch Elementary School.
The PLA serves students at risk of dropping out by offering personalized academic support and an alternative path to earning a high school diploma.
Find out what's happening in Peabodyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Peabody Mayor Ted Bettencourt and Mark Higgins, assistant superintendent of Peabody Public Schools, were among those at the ceremony to celebrate the graduates.
The event marked a milestone for students whose path to graduation was not guaranteed.
Since 1999, the foundation has helped more than 30,000 students graduate through academies like the one in Peabody nationwide.
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