MCAS results show room for improvement

The scores are in as the 2026 Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System results from 2026 were released by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

On the state level, in math, 41 percent of students in grades 3-8 met or exceeded expectations, roughly consistent with 2025., according to Department of Elementary and Secondary Education officials. Grade 8 saw notable progress, increasing 4 percentage points to 42 percent meeting or exceeding expectations. Grade 10 math was roughly consistent with last year.

In English language arts, 40 percent of students in grades 3-8 met or exceeded expectations, the department stated. Results declined by 2 percentage points from 2025. Grade 10 ELA also declined from last year.

In science, grade 8 improved by 2 percentage points, with 39 percent of students meeting or exceeding expectations. Results declined in grade 5 and at the high school level.

Middleboro Superintendent of Schools David Thomson said the district views “all assessment data as an opportunity for continuous improvement.’’

He said that “we are pleased that our district has maintained student achievement levels in English Language Arts and Mathematics across grades 3 through 8. This consistency reflects the hard work of our students and the ongoing dedication of our educators and support staff. ’’

But he acknowledged that “we did see a slight dip in 10th-grade achievement levels in both ELA and Math. This is concerning but also consistent with state data. ’’

Administrators and educators “will continue to thoroughly analyze these results,’’ Thomson said, “to pinpoint specific areas of growth, refine our instructional strategies, and ensure targeted support is provided to meet the needs of all our students.

The Freetown Lakeville School District is in the process of reviewing the results, Superintendent of Schools Barbara Starkie said. “We are always proud of our students for their successes and we are here to support them in areas where there may be gaps.”

“We in the FLRSD are in the process of reviewing the newly available data. We will be making a presentation regarding MCAS at our October School Committee meeting." 

After an initial review of the recently released MCAS data, Director of Curriculum and Instruction Teri Fleming noted that “Freetown-Lakeville continues to exceed state averages, this year at least 7% or more of our students met or exceeded proficiency in our grade 3-8 span & grade 10 math and all grades science assessments over the state average. We want to celebrate Assawompset Elementary School and George R. Austin Intermediate School for achieving substantial progress towards the target for the 2025-2026 school year.”

Starkie also said that “MCAS is one data point among many available data sets used to gauge student and district performance.’’ She noted with pride that  Apponequet Regional High School has placed 57th of 353 high schools in Massachusetts and 1,122 of 17,945 nationally, placing it in the top six percent, according to US News and World Report rankings.

Middleboro results

Burkland Elementary School

Overall, in English, 31 percent of students met or exceeded expectations, which is down 6 percentage points from 2025 and down 20 percentage points from 2019.

Overall, in math, 26 percent of students met or exceeded expectations, which is down 10 percentage points from 2025 and down 31 percentage points from 2019. 

In science, 30 percent of students of fifth graders met or exceeded expectations, which is down 8 percentage points from 2025 and down 28 percentage points from 2019.

Goode Elementary

Overall, in English, 41 percent of students met or exceeded expectations, which is up 7 percentage points from 2025 and down 4 percentage points from 2019.

Overall, in math, 39 percent of students met or exceeded expectations, which is down 3 percentage points from 2025 and down 18 percentage points from 2019.

In science, 51 percent of fifth graders met or exceeded expectations, which is up 11 percentage points from 2025 and up 3 percentage points from 2019.

Nichols Middle School

Overall, in English, 37 percent of students met or exceeded expectations, which is down 4 percentage points from 2025 and down 22 percentage points from 2019.

Overall, in math, 25 percent of students met or exceeded expectations, which is down 5 percentage points from 2025 and down 17 percentage points from 2019.

In science, 37 percent of eighth graders met or exceeded expectations, which is down 2 percentage points from 2025 and down 12 percentage points from 2019.

Middleboro High School

In English, 39 percent of 10th graders met or exceeded expectations, which is down 15 percentage points from 2025 and down 16 percentage points from 2019.

In math, 37 percent of 10th graders met or exceeded expectations, which is down 12 percentage points from 2025 and down 20 percentage points from 2019.

In science, 34 percent of 10th graders met or exceeded expectations, which is down 19 percentage points from 2025.

Freetown-Lakeville results

Assawompsett Elementary School

In English, 44 percent of third graders met or exceeded expectations, which is down 4 percentage points from 2025 and down 18 percentage points from 2019.

In math, 59 percent of third graders met or exceeded expectations, which is down 2 percentage points from 2025 and up 13 percentage points from 2019

Austin Intermediate School

Overall, in English, 39 percent of students met or exceeded expectations, which is up 4 percentage points from 2025 and down 15 percentage points from 2019.

Overall, in math, 51 percent of students met or exceeded expectations, which is up 2 percentage points from 2025 and down 3 percentage points from 2019.

In science, 53 percent of fifth graders met or exceeded expectations, which is up 2 percentage points from 2025 and down 14 percentage points from 2019.

Freetown-Lakeville Middle School

Overall, in English, 35 percent of students met or exceeded expectations, which is down 10 percentage points from 2025 and down 17 percentage points from 2019.

Overall, in math, 46 percent of students met or exceeded expectations, which is down 5 percentage points from 2025 and down 5 percentage points from 2019.

In science, 50 percent of students met or exceeded expectations, which is the same as 2025 and down 4 percentage points from 2019.

Apponequet Regional High School

In English, 54 percent of 10th graders met or exceeded expectations, which is down 3 percentage points from 2025 and down 24 percentage points from 2019.

In math, 51 percent of 10th graders met or exceeded expectations, which is down 5 percentage points from 2025 and down 26 percentage points from 2019.

In science, 49 percent of 10th graders met or exceeded expectations, which is down 20 percentage points from 2025.