Data journalism – sds236-s26

Assignment 1

Citations: tidyr 1.3.2 (https://tidyr.tidyverse.org/articles/pivot.html) was used for information on pivoting a data set

Closeread

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closeread

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The People of Right Now

Will Springfield’s Youth Push Turnout in Upcoming Midterms?

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By Flora Resika, Ava White, and Chi Mai · May 2, 2026

Flora Resika, Ava White, Chi Mai

“Outside the norm”: Vocational high schools tout performance as economy tightens

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Ed Lesko’s goal was to become a millionaire by the time he was 40 years old. “I succeeded at 42,” says Ed Lesko, now president of the Smith Vocational and Agricultural High…

Steph Krieger, Mia Mielke, Hannah Hafner

“Outside the norm”: Vocational high schools tout performance as economy tightens

Ed Lesko’s goal was to become a millionaire by the time he was 40 years old. “I succeeded at 42,” says Ed Lesko, now president of the Smith Vocational and Agricultural High…

Steph Krieger, Mia Mielke, Hannah Hafner

Northampton’s Soaring Housing Costs are Pushing Smith Faculty Out of Town

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As the housing affordability crisis in Western Massachusetts continues to worsen, even those considered to be some of the most privileged and educated members of our…

Sophia Neilson, Kiersten Conley, and Bella Vasquez

PVTA Considers New Routes to Fill Service and Accessibility Gaps

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For riders like Sarah Hougen, a Northampton resident who does not own a car, the shift to fare-free transit in the Pioneer Valley has changed how she uses the system.

Hayden Steinmann and Maddy Allred

PVTA Considers New Routes to Fill Service and Accessibility Gaps

For riders like Sarah Hougen, a Northampton resident who does not own a car, the shift to fare-free transit in the Pioneer Valley has changed how she uses the system.

Hayden Steinmann and Maddy Allred

When 911 Isn’t the Answer: A Look Inside Northampton’s Division of Community Care

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When someone calls 911, what they often need is not law enforcement, but help.

Ady Jaeckel, Miriam Pennock

“The people of right now”: Youth and Springfield’s Low Voter Turnout (Closread)

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:root { --cr-section-background-color: #FFFFFF; --cr-narrative-text-color-overlay: var(--bs-light); --cr-narrative-border-radius…

Flora Resika, Ava White, Chi Mai

When 911 Isn’t the Answer: A Look Inside Northampton’s Division of Community Care

When someone calls 911, what they often need is not law enforcement, but help.

Ady Jaeckel, Miriam Pennock

“The people of right now”: Youth and Springfield’s Low Voter Turnout

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Khadija Mohamed first became involved in political advocacy as a junior at Springfield Central High School. Eight years later, she works as a teen organizer to mobilize…

Flora Resika, Ava White, Chi Mai

Northampton’s Soaring Housing Costs are Pushing Smith Faculty Out of Town

As the housing affordability crisis in Western Massachusetts continues to worsen, even those considered to be some of the most privileged and educated members of our…

Sophia Neilson, Kiersten Conley, and Bella Vasquez

Who Gets to Teach? Racial Disparities in Massachusetts Licensure Exam

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Before stepping into the classroom, educators in Massachusetts are required to pass a series of standardized exams. But not all aspiring educators pass their licensing exams…

A District in Decline: Elementary School Enrollment Drops in Northampton

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During the current 2025-2026 school year, data from the Massachusetts Education to Career Research and Data Hub shows that three out of the four Northampton public…

Arts Enrollment Declines After Middle School in Massachusetts

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With the aptly-named Drawing Act of 1870, Massachusetts was the first state to require drawing classes in public schools. The act responded to the increased need for…

From Pandemic to Progress: How MCAS Scores Have Rebounded (or Not)

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For Lorelai Eidswick, a 2024 graduate from Franklin High School, returning to the classroom following the pandemic was less of a continuation and more of a reset. She…

Hayden Steinmann

Graduating high school in Massachusetts? You won’t need the MCAS.

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Amid declining test scores, the Healey-Driscoll administration is working towards developing a new set of graduation requirements for Massachusetts high school students.

Northampton Outperforms State on AP Exams, but Why?

In 2025, Northampton High School students had higher average scores than other districts in Massachusetts in College Board’s Advanced Placement exams, a common marker of…

Kiersten Conley

Passions and Professions: What is the Difference Between What Massachusetts Public High School Graduates From Different Class Years Make?

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Choosing a major and a career typically involves balancing passion alongside financial benefit. The cost of a college education can exceed tens of thousands of dollars, says…

Should the MCAS be making a comeback?

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The MCAS, or Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System, was a result of the 1993 Education Reform Law which created a formula to determine funding of schools across…

Chronic Absenteeism Declines in Massachusetts, Though Barriers Remain

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As of the end of the 2024-2025 school year, Massachusetts’ chronic absenteeism rate has fallen to 18.8 percent, a nearly 6 percentage point decrease from March 2023, a…

Looking ahead: the rising cost of affordable higher education

Maeve Cavaleri, a student of environmental science at the University of Massachusetts in Boston, chose the school because it was “the cheapest and closest option.”

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Welcome To My Blog

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Tristan O’Malley