Danvers MCAS: Students Lose Ground In Math During Pandemic Year

DANVERS, MA — Danvers student scores from the MCAS were mostly in line with results from across the state that showed while students maintained relatively stable results from 2019 in English, students slipped 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.

“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."

Danvers Superintendent of Schools Lisa Dana told Patch Wednesday morning that she will address the district's MCAS scores as part of her annual state data review to the Danvers School Committee on Oct. 18.

Families will receive results on Sept. 30.

Danvers results showed 64 percent of 10th-grade students exceeded or met expectations in English and 41 percent did so in math. That is an increase of 6 percent in English and a decrease of 15 percent in math.

The results were similar in younger grades where students in grades 3 through 8 showed 50 percent met or exceeded expectations in English and 38 percent did in math. That is a decrease of 1 and 8 percent, respectively.

Danvers was ahead of the state trend when it came to science scores for eighth-graders, which increased 5 percent to 48 percent who exceeded or met expectations. Fifth-grade, however, followed a more statewide trend of falling 10 percent to 37 percent who exceeded or met expectations.

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.

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)

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