MCAS results paint mixed picture

10th-graders gain, but some scores fall

September 09, 2011|By James Vaznis, Globe Staff

More Massachusetts 10th-graders this past spring cleared the MCAS graduation hurdle, but scores for third-grade reading - a critical indicator of future school success - dropped again, according to the latest test results released yesterday.

The performance among the oldest and youngest test-takers reflected the mixed results across all grade levels and subjects tested under the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System. It also renewed concerns among some education advocates that local schools might be experiencing difficulty jump-starting stagnant academic achievement.

The state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education released the results in an unusually low-key manner. Instead of the fanfare of a press conference as in past years, officials issued a press release that focused on the positive aspects of the scores among the more than 500,000 test-takers.

All students in grades 3 through 8 and Grade 10 take tests in English and math, while fifth-, eighth- and 10th-graders also take exams in science. Overall, students showed improvement on eight of the 17 tests, and performance slipped on all the other exams with the exception of one in which results were flat.

Mitchell Chester, the state’s commissioner of elementary and secondary education, said he was heartened by the improvements in the 10th grade, where 87 percent of students passed all tests in English, math, and science - a state graduation requirement. That’s an increase of 1 percentage point from the previous year.

“The high school results are remarkable,’’ Chester said in an interview, noting pass rates for the most part have been rising for more than a decade. “Massachusetts has done a great job of raising the bar and developing for secondary school students a much better education.’’

Chester said he was also pleased that the portion of fifth-graders scoring proficient or advanced rose by 4 percentage points in both English and math, to 67 percent and 59 percent.

But Chester also expressed disappointment that other results slipped or showed only slight improvement.

“I would like to see all results moving up two, three, or four points,’’ he said.

In a statement, Governor Deval Patrick said: “I am encouraged by these results and particularly the continued progress of our high school students. We are on the right track but still have more work ahead to improve outcomes and close achievement gaps for all students.’’

The department released only statewide results yesterday. Scores for individual schools and districts will come out later this month.