Superintendent pleased with MCAS scores

By Sabrina Cardin
Staff writer

September 25, 2008 03:43 am

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AMESBURY — MCAS scores for 2008 showed marked improvements and only minimal slips in the Amesbury School District's scores compared to last year.

"Scores show a whole lot of good news," Superintendent Charles Chaurette said. "Overall, the schools are working together."

The Massachusetts Department of Education released the scores yesterday.

Setting the bar high for next year, 73 percent of Amesbury High School 10th-grade students placed advanced or proficient in science and technology. Statewide, only 57 percent of students placed advanced or proficient.

"Science scores were huge news," Chaurette said. "All were above average."

This year marked the first year for MCAS testing of 10th-graders on science and technology. Of 340 schools across the state, AHS placed 87th for the science and technology portion.

Middle school students also improved in areas that lagged last year. In 2007, the seventh grade had only 32 percent of students scoring advanced or proficient in math. Now in the eighth grade, students have shown strong signs of progress and are 2 percent above district average with 53 percent scoring advanced or proficient.

Although strides have been made in the right direction, Chaurette does note two areas in need of evaluation and improvement.

The fourth-grade English and language arts scores went down 3.2 points. At Cashman Elementary School, 43 percent of students scored advanced or proficient, and at Amesbury Elementary, 47 percent scored advanced or proficient. Across the state, fourth-grade English and language arts dropped 3.6 percent, and 48 percent of students scored advanced or proficient.

"This is an area we need to examine closely," Chaurette said.

AES recently announced its second year of not meeting Annual Yearly Progress and cited English and language arts as a trouble area. As a result of this year's scores, AES is now labeled a first-year School in Need of Improvement.

Taking measures similar to when the math scores were low, a part-time Title I reading tutor has been hired for third- and fourth-grade students, and longer library hours have been added.

Another trouble area is sixth-grade math. Math scores are still below state level and fell below last year's 51 percent of students scoring advanced or proficient. This year, 48 percent of students scored advanced or proficient, and 22 percent tested at risk of failure. Statewide, 56 percent of students scored advanced or proficient, and 18 percent were at risk of failure.

"These are areas we want to look at the kids and the test and spend time improving," Chaurette said.

He assured more extensive analysis will be available at the next School Committee meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 7.

"We still need to hold meetings and analyze all the data," Chaurette said. "I think the results were positive."