On June 12, Pollard Middle School in Needham, Massachusetts, witnessed a remarkable event as 23 sets of twins graduated together, making up about 10% of the entire eighth-grade class.
Principal Tamatha Bibbo told The Washington Post, “We typically have anywhere from five to 10 sets at most. Given our numbers, we have approximately 450 to 500 children in each grade, so this was extraordinarily high.”
“Just the sheer number, the volume, and in comparison, typically we have between five and 10 sets of twins, but to have 23 — they’re a phenomena in the town,” Principal Tamatha Bibbo said noting that there’s a 47th twin, whose sibling isn’t in the class, graduating too.
Statistical rarity
In the U.S., twins account for only 3% of total live births, making this occurrence exceptionally rare. The batch included both fraternal and identical twins, adding to the uniqueness of the event.
Understanding twins
Twins can be either fraternal or identical. Fraternal twins result from two separate eggs fertilized by different sperm, leading to non-identical siblings who may be of different sexes. Identical twins come from a single fertilized egg that splits into two embryos, resulting in siblings of the same sex with identical chromosomes and features, though slight differences can occur due to their positioning in the uterus.
This extraordinary graduation highlights the statistical rarity and unique bond shared by these twins, making it a memorable event for Pollard Middle School.