Arlington’s 2017 MCAS sores are “above the state average,” Superintendent Kathleen Bodie wrote in an email Wednesday, Oct. 18, to parents and guardians.
She wrote that it “has been true in the past …. This test is one of many measures we use to understand how to help our students achieve academically.”
She did not provide specifics. See links at this BostonGlobe.com story >>
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) released the 2017 MCAS scores Oct. 18. These scores are for both the legacy MCAS tests taken at grade 10 and in science, and for the Next-Generation MCAS tests for English language arts and mathematics in grades 3 through 8.
Massachusetts educators set more rigorous standards for the new MCAS tests, which has resulted in fewer students achieving in the higher categories statewide. These result do not mean student learning has been lost. Rather, these results are the effect of the higher standards applied in the Next-Generation MCAS questions. These higher standards do not affect the 10th-grade tests.
As has been true in the past, Arlington’s results are above the state average. This test is one of many measures we use to understand how to help our students achieve academically.
This year, students will not receive individual growth scores. However, the state has calculated growth scores by grade, school and subject. Growth scores compare a student’s performance to other students who performed similarly on past MCAS assessments.
Also this year, schools will not receive accountability levels, except for grade 10, which took the legacy MCAS. Delaying accountability levels for the other schools provides time to adjust to the new test and standards. Arlington High School remains a Level 1 school.
Parents will receive their student’s individual MCAS report card by late October or early November. For more information on the Next-Generation MCAS, please see the DESE website for parents >>
This news announcement was published Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2017.
