Vaccinated Hopkinton HS Students Can Go Without Masks Monday

HOPKINTON, MA — Vaccinated students at Hopkinton High School are the first in Massachusetts to have the option to go to class without masks Monday. This marks the first time Massachusetts high schoolers are able to attend class without masks since the start of the pandemic.

In late October, the Hopkinton School Committee voted to initiate a three-week trial period of optional masks for vaccinated students, since 98% of students are vaccinated. In order for a school to lift mask mandates, the state requires a vaccination rate of at least 80% for students and staff, and approval from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Hopkinton High School was the first school in the state to receive such permission on Oct. 7. Despite the school’s near-universal vaccination rate, Superintendent Carol Cavanaugh told WBZ-TV that only 50% of students and parents have submitted their paperwork, so she expects that at least half of students will still be wearing masks on Monday.

The option remains temporary, and the mask mandate will return the week of Nov. 22 ahead of Thanksgiving travel. The school committee will revisit the mandate after Thanksgiving recess, according to a CBS4 report.

Occupants of the rest of Hopkinton school buildings have not reached the 80% threshold, and will continue to wear masks, Cavanaugh said.

Last week, DESE announced that the mask mandate for Massachusetts public schools was extended until Jan. 15.

Related:

• Hopkinton High School Is First To Get Approval To Remove Masks
• Hopkinton High School First In State To Remove Mask Mandate