Middleboro school district MCAS scores show decline in results across most grade levels

MIDDLEBORO — The state standardized test results are in and the Middleboro Public School District — with outliers in the fourth grade results — shows student achievements in English language arts, math and science have declined.

The Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System, more commonly referred to as MCAS, measures the performance of third through eighth, and 10th grade public school students. All students take math and English language arts tests, with the addition of science for grades five, eight and 10. 

For years, 10th graders had to pass the MCAS exam to receive a high school diploma, but following a state-wide vote last November, the requirement was stripped. School districts still administered the test to self-evaluate their students’ strong and weak areas. 

In a press meeting, state officials said fewer high school students reported proficient scores across the commonwealth this year. They partially attributed this to the removal of the exam as a graduation requirement.

“We do have some evidence, whether it be in terms of the amount of students that left answers blank as compared to previous years, or the amount of students who answered a question in an off-topic manner,” said Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Chief of Data and Assessment Accountability Robert Curtin.

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education collects and categorizes the results into four performance-based categories: exceeding expectations, meets expectations, partially meets expectations and not meeting expectations.

Compared to last year’s results, the district saw an increase in the combined meeting and exceeding expectations in English scores for two grade levels. Fourth grade improved by six percentage points, and tenth grade improved by three percentage points. 

All other grades saw either no improvement or a decline in the percent of students meeting or exceeding expectations. The largest decline was of 10 points in the eighth grade.

In state-wide scores between this year and 2024, fourth grade English saw a three percentage point increase in meeting and exceeding expectations, 10th grade saw a six point decrease and eighth grade increased one percentage point. 

For meeting and exceeding expectations in math — compared to 2024 — fourth grade increased two percentage points, but all other grades saw a decline. This ranged from seventh and 10th grades decreasing one percentage point to 12 and six percentage point drops in grades five and eight, respectively.

Compared to 2024, state-wide math trends for meeting and exceeding expectations showed a three percentage point drop in the fourth grade, a two point increase in the seventh grade and a three point decrease in the 10th. No increases were found in grades five and eight.

There was also a decrease in science scores compared to last year. 

The fifth grade dropped by 12 percentage points, and the eighth grade by five. 10th grade science scores saw no change. Compared to state data, scores grew one point in the fifth grade, and decreased two percentage points in the eighth grade.

The new eighth grade civics test included a state level performance task — an 11 question exam focusing on a variety of civics topics — and an end of year exam.

The department of elementary and secondary education created the test with the help of civics teachers. Eighty-five percent of eighth graders met or partially met expectations, while only 2% exceeded them.

There are a few standout increases in percentages of meeting and exceeding expectations when comparing current elementary, middle school and high school results to scores from 2024.

At the Henry B. Burkland Elementary School, fourth grade English and math scores for meeting and exceeding expectations increased by three points compared to 2024. There are declines throughout English, math and science areas.

Fifth grade test scores declined the most: by seven percentage points in English, 12 in math and 20 in science.

Comparing 2024 scores for fourth grade students at the Mary K. Goode Elementary School, meeting and exceeding expectation results increased by 8 percentage points in English but fifth grade math scores dropped by 12 points. 

Scores from the John T. Nichols Middle School mainly decreased when compared against 2024. Eighth grade English scores decreased by 10 points; all grades had lower scores in meeting and exceeding expectations for math and eighth grade science scores were five points lower. 

Test results from tenth grade students at Middleboro High School show an increase of five percentage points for English scores and small decreases of one point in both math and science tests.