Falmouth MCAS: Younger Students Lose Ground During Pandemic Year

FALMOUTH, MA — Falmouth student results from the MCAS were mostly in line with results across the state that showed while older students maintained relatively stable results on the English exam, younger students' scores slipped on all tests 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. State officials used 2019 for comparison because it was the most recent previous year the test was given after the exams were skipped in 2020 amid the sudden pivot to remote learning.

Falmouth results showed 79 percent of 10th-grade students exceeded or met expectations in English in 10th grade and 61 percent did so in math. That is an increase of 4 percent in English and a decrease of 5 percent in math.

The results were worse in younger grades, where students in grades 3 through 8 showed 55 percent met or exceeded expectations in English and 44 percent did on the math test. That is a decrease of 8 and 15 percent, respectively.

There was a similar drop in science scores for eighth grade, where 47 percent of eighth-graders exceeded or met expectations (a 13 percent decline). The decline was less sharp in grade five, where 54 percent of students met or exceeded expectations (a 2 percent decline).

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.

While teachers unions and some advocates have called for pausing use of the MCAS tests or eliminating their use as a graduation requirement, Gov. Charlie Baker on Monday said he would be "very aggressive about supporting the ongoing process of using diagnostic tools to ensure that kids are getting the basic education that they're entitled to."

Families will receive their child's MCAS scores after Sept. 30, the education department said.
The 2021 tests for third through eighth grades were shorter than usual, a factor the department said can cause individual student performance to vary.

Materials from State House News Service were used in this report.

More Patch Coverage: MCAS Results Show Slide In Massachusetts Scores During Pandemic