The results of the 2024 Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) testing has demonstrated a continued need for emphasis on English and mathematics.
With both seeing a decrease in the amount of students who exceed or meet expectations, state leaders cite the need for more progress to be made and resources devoted to improving the performance.
“Change in education is a process, not an event. As the MCAS results show today, the road back from the (COVID-19) pandemic is not short,” Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler said in a press release. “We’re encouraged to see that students are making gains in science and technology/engineering, but there is still more work to do in English language arts and math.”
As a district, Lynnfield Public Schools was categorized as not requiring intervention after the release of the most recent MCAS scores. Overall, the district was identified as making substantial progress toward its target.
Lynnfield Middle School was identified as making moderate progress toward targets, Huckleberry Hill Elementary School as making substantial progress toward targets, and Summer Street Elementary and Lynnfield High School as meeting or exceeding targets.
The administration is reviewing the data from the MCAS scores to determine how to best collaborate with teachers and each school administration to evaluate and plan next steps, Assistant Superintendent Adam Federico said.
Federico, who began working as an administrator in the district on Sept. 3, said the district typically scores above the state average and they are identifying areas that need growth.
In ELA, 30% of Lynnfield grade 10 students exceeded expectations compared to 14% statewide; 55% met expectations compared to 43% statewide; 11% partially met expectations compared to 31% statewide; and 4% did not meet expectations compared to 12% statewide.
In mathematics, 20% of Lynnfield grade 10 students exceeded expectations compared to 12% statewide; 57% met expectations compared to 36% statewide; 18% partially met expectations compared to 39% statewide; and 5% did not meet expectations compared to 13% statewide.
In science, 15% of Lynnfield grade 10 students exceeded expectations compared to 12% statewide; 61% met expectations compared to 37% statewide; 40% partially met expectations compared to 40% statewide; and 0% did not meet expectations compared to 11% statewide.
In ELA, 13% of Lynnfield students in grades 3 through 8 exceeded expectations compared to 7% statewide; 48% met expectations compared to 32% statewide; 32% partially met expectations compared to 40% statewide; and 8% did not meet expectations compared to 21% statewide.
In mathematics, 12% of Lynnfield students in grades 3 through 8 exceeded expectations compared to 8% statewide; 50% met expectations compared to 33% statewide; 33% partially met expectations compared to 42% statewide; and 5% did not meet expectations compared to 18% statewide.
In science and technology/engineering, 5% of Lynnfield students in grades 3 through 8 exceeded expectations compared to 6% statewide; 49% met expectations compared to 36% statewide; 37% partially met expectations compared to 38% statewide; and 9% did not meet expectations compared to 20% statewide.
“Overall, I’d say we’re really proud of our students and our teachers. They work really hard and I think MCAS is certainly one of several data points that we would use to gauge our performance,” Federico said. “There’s a strong culture in Lynnfield of striving for high achievement and I feel confident that our teachers will do a great job using this data to reflect on their instruction.”
