NMRHS senior earns Seal of Biliteracy in Tagalog

North Middlesex Regional School District announced that high school senior AJ Macapagal has earned the Massachusetts State Seal of Biliteracy with Distinction in English and Tagalog.

The Seal of Biliteracy is awarded to students who demonstrate proficiency in English and at least one additional language by the time they graduate high school. Students who earn the Seal receive a special designation on their diploma recognizing the achievement.

Macapagal grew up in the Philippines, where Tagalog is her native language. She received bilingual education in English and Tagalog while living there and continues to use Tagalog with her family, listening to Tagalog music daily.

She plans to pursue a career as a nurse practitioner and intends to use her proficiency in Tagalog to connect with patients and reduce language barriers.

More than 18,000 students have achieved the Seal of Biliteracy since 2019. The district said the Seal represents academic excellence, strengthens college applications, improves job prospects and prepares students for a global workforce that values multilingualism.

"Congratulations to AJ on this impressive accomplishment," Principal Laurie Smith said in the release. "Earning the Seal of Biliteracy with Distinction reflects her dedication to maintaining her language skills and embracing her cultural heritage, and we are excited to see how she makes a difference in her future career."

Source: North Middlesex Regional School District announcement, October 26, 2026.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the original announcement.