Baptist Academy's Marlensky Salien Named Nation's Top Male Student in 2026 Grade Six National Assessment

The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology is celebrating one of its brightest young scholars, congratulating Marlensky J. Salien of the Baptist Academy of Antigua on his outstanding achievement as the second-place student overall and the top male performer in the 2026 Grade Six National Assessment.

Marlensky achieved a score of 382 out of 400 — placing him just one mark behind the top student Denushka H. Gibbs of Minoah Magnet Academy, who scored 383. His performance earned him the dual distinction of national runner-up and the highest-scoring male student in the entire country.

In its congratulatory message, the Ministry of Education described Marlensky's success as a reflection of his dedication, hard work, and unwavering commitment to excellence — calling it a shining example of what can be achieved through perseverance and focus.

Officials were equally generous in recognising the people behind the achievement. The Ministry commended Marlensky's parents, his teachers, and the wider Baptist Academy school community for the role they played in nurturing and supporting his academic journey — acknowledging that no student excels in isolation.

The Ministry wished Marlensky continued success as he prepares for the next chapter of his education at the secondary school level.

Marlensky's recognition comes as education officials release the full 2026 Grade Six National Assessment results, which showed 53.4 percent of the 1,284 candidates achieving the highest performance tier — Level 4 — and 89 percent attaining acceptable performance overall. The gender gap in performance persisted this year, with 61 percent of female students reaching the top tier compared with 47 percent of males. Marlensky's achievement as the top male student is therefore all the more noteworthy given the competitive field of his peers.

The nation joins the Ministry of Education, the Baptist Academy of Antigua, and his family in congratulating Marlensky J. Salien.