Swampscott MCAS: Scores Mostly Steady Despite Pandemic Hardships

Swampscott MA

23 September, 2021

1:09 PM

Description

SWAMPSCOTT, MA — Swampscott student scores from the MCAS were mostly encouraging compared to results from across the state that showed while students maintained relatively stable results from 2019 in English, there was some slippage in math and science during remote and hybrid learning. The percentage of students in third through eighth grade receiving a score of "meeting expectations" or higher in math and English each dropped from 2019 statewide, according to Department of Elementary and Secondary Education results released on Tuesday. The most recent previous year the test was given was 2019 after the exams were skipped in 2020 amid the sudden pivot to remote learning. "Though the Boston Globe reported 'Mass scores had plummeted' I don't think our scores are horrible considering the circumstances that were surrounding them," Swampscott Superintendent Pam Angelakis said during Wednesday night's school committee meeting. She said she was in the middle of crafting a letter to accompany the individual results when they go home to families on or around Sept. 30. She said the results will be analyzed further at an upcoming school committee meeting. "The MCAS tests administered in the spring provide Massachusetts educators and families with critical insight into where students did not progress academically, and the results clearly illustrate how the disrupted school year of remote and hybrid learning impacted students' academic achievement," Secretary of Education James Peyser said. "We will continue to work with districts to support efforts to regain learning that did not happen and promote student success and educational equity." Swampscott results showed 72 percent of 10th-grade students exceeded or met expectations in English and 66 percent did so in math. That is an increase of 7 percent in English and a decrease of 4 percent in math. The results were a bit less encouraging in younger grades where students in grades 3 through 8 showed 57 percent met or exceeded expectations in English and 41 percent did in math. That is a decrease of 5 and 14 percent, respectively. Results were similar when it came to science scores for eighth-graders, which decreased 8 percent to 49 percent who exceeded or met expectations. Fifth-grade remained nearly steady in science, falling 2 percent to 56 percent who exceeded or met expectations. Angelakis noted the shorter tests this past spring meant the difference of 1 or 2 questions was more likely to affect whether a student met or exceeded expectations. "You're not even comparing apples to oranges," she said at the school committee meeting. "You're looking at 2019 and 2021 ... there is just not really a comparable." School Committee member Glenn Paster agreed: "I was very pleased given what everyone has gone through for almost two years now. I think it was OK. There is absolutely room for improvement. But given what we've gone through I have no complaints whatsoever." Statewide results showed the percentage of math proficiency for third- through eighth-graders fell from 49 percent in 2019 to 33 percent in 2021, while English dropped from 52 to 46. In high school, the percentage of 10th-graders who met or exceeded expectations was up from 61 to 64 percent in 2021, while the math grade dropped from 52 to 50 percent. Did you find this article useful? Invite a friend to subscribe to Patch. (Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at [email protected]. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.) More Patch Coverage: MCAS Results Show Slide In Massachusetts Scores During Pandemic