Malden's MCAS Scores On Track: School Officials

MALDEN, MA — Malden Public Schools officials said a first look at MCAS data released Thursday shows the district is "keeping up with or surpassing our urban counterparts."

In a statement Superintendent John Oteri sent to Patch, officials said they will be analyzing the results on a school, grade, and individual level in the coming weeks. District administration will then discuss how to carry on in light of their findings.

"As a learning community we embrace a 'growth mindset' and are always aiming to improve," the statement said.

The next-generation MCAS scores given in grades 3-8 are in their second year, and officials have warned against rushing to judgements as they establish a baseline. Students in grade 10 took the legacy tests, which are in their last year. Read more about legacy and next-generation tests here.

Forty-eight percent of those who took next-generation tests met or exceeded expectations in English and 42 percent did so in math. Thirteen percent did not meet expectations in English and 15 percent did not do so in math.

In the 10th-grade legacy testing, 80 percent of students were proficient or advance in English, 73 percent were in math, and 66 percent were in science. Six percent scored a warning/failing in English, 11 percent did so in math, and 8 percent did so in science.

Scroll below for the 2018 MCAS results for next-generation tests (grades 3-8) and legacy tests (grade 10.) School-by-school scores will be provided in the coming days.

"In general, the standards for meeting expectations on this new assessment are more rigorous than standards for meeting 'proficiency' on the legacy assessments," Malden district officials said.

The data released Thursday is the first containing the state's new accountability system, which state education officials are calling a more comprehensive look. Malden was classified as "not requiring assistance or intervention" because it was "partially meeting targets." Read more about the accountability system here.

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Next-generation

English language arts

Meeting or exceeding expectations: 1,390 (48 percent)

Exceeding expectations: 232 (8 percent)

Meeting expectations: 1,158 (40 percent)

Partially meeting expectations: 1,125 (39 percent)

Not meeting expectations: 392 (13 percent)

Math

Meeting or exceeding expectations: 1,210 (42 percent)

Exceeding expectations: 161 (6 percent)

Meeting expectations: 1,049 (36 percent)

Partially meeting expectations: 1,260 (43 percent)

Not meeting expectations: 440 (15 percent)

Legacy

English language arts

Proficient or advanced: 305 (80 percent)

Advanced: 130 (34 percent)

Proficient: 175 (46 percent)

Needs important: 52 (14 percent)

Warning/Failing: 22 (6 percent)

Math

Proficient or advanced: 275 (73 percent)

Advanced: 172 (46 percent)

Proficient: 103 (27 percent)

Needs important: 61 (16 percent)

Warning/Failing: 42 (11 percent)

Science

Proficient or advanced: 222 (66 percent)

Advanced: 91 (27 percent)

Proficient: 131 (39 percent)

Needs important: 86 (26 percent)

Warning/Failing: 26 (8 percent)

Photo by Mike Carraggi, Patch