Burkland Elementary School in Middleboro and Apponequet Regional High School were both named Schools of Recognition on Tuesday in tandem with the release of 2024 MCAS results. 

They and the 55 other schools on the list were selected from among all the schools in the state on the basis of outstanding performance on the state's standardized tests and for their progress in achieving their own educational targets.

The MCAS results themselves, a sea of numbers measuring performance by subject matter and by grade level, contained both good and bad news for the state as a whole and for local districts.

“We are pleased to see growth in our scores across our district and will continue to work toward progress,’’ Middleboro Superintendent of Schools Carolyn Lyons said. 

She said the district is in the process of analyzing the data. Educators will review the data “to foster continued student achievement,’’ Lyons noted. 

The state categorizes MCAS scores as "not meeting expectations," "partially meeting expectations," "meeting expectations" and "exceeding expectations." In analyzing the scores, the "meeting" and "exceeding" categories are generally combined.

At Apponequet, where 10th graders took the tests, a whopping 77% met or exceeded expectations in English language arts, 72% in science and technology, and 66% in math.

While students in Assawompset Elementary School in Lakeville continued to outperform the state average for meeting or exceeding standards, the percentage of Assawompset students meeting or exceeding standards declined from 2023 to 2024 in both English language arts and math.

Lakeville-Freetown Superintendent of Schools Alan Strauss said he was pleased overall with his district’s numbers.

“All of our schools made progress in various areas, some schools made exceptional progress in multiple indicators, one school made progress in every indicator with every group of students, and one school is receiving state recognition, he said.

Strauss said he was “pleased yet not surprised’’ with the results. He credited “our talented staff, pre-K to 12, the continued focus of our students, support of parents/guardians, the oversight of building principals and the long-term vision developed by multiple stakeholders.’’