How did Brockton do on MCAS compared to last year, pre-COVID and the state average

Christopher Butler, The Enterprise
Updated ·5 min read
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BROCKTON — The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education released the 2023 MCAS results, showing only small gains — and quite a few declines — in scores within Brockton Public Schools as communities across the state try to climb back to pre-pandemic achievement levels.

According to the MCAS data, less than a quarter of the roughly 6,000 BPS students in grades three through eight met or exceeded expectations on the science, math and English exams — while about double that many students met or exceeded expectations statewide.

In both Brockton and statewide, the percentage of students exceeding or meeting expectations is well below pre-pandemic levels.

“Pandemic learning loss is a national problem,” said Massachusetts Secretary of Education Patrick A. Tutwiler. “We know there is still much to be done, and we will continue to improve and strengthen our schools until every student can access the supports and resources they need to succeed.”

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How did Brockton score on MCAS in grades 3-8?

This year, 23% of Brockton students in grades 3-8 met or exceeded expectations on the English language arts exam, while 19% did so in math and 18% in science. The remainder either partially met expectations or did not meet expectations.

Those numbers were a small improvement over 2022, when 21% of Brockton students in grades 3-8 met or exceeded expectations in English, 16% in math and 17% in science.

Prior to the pandemic, In 2019, the scores were significantly higher, with 27% of Brockton students in grades 3-8 meeting or exceeding expectations in English, and 23% in both math and science.

Brockton Public Schools officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the school district's scores when contacted by The Enterprise.

How does Brockton compare to statewide scores for grades 3-8?

Statewide in 2023, 42% of students in grades 3-8 met or exceeded expectations in English, 40% in math and 41% in science.

Brockton Public Schools scored below the state average on the 2023 MCAS exams, as the state and country slowly climb back to pre-pandemic academic achievement levels. Data in the graph from the state Department of Education includes scores for grades three to eight.
Brockton Public Schools scored below the state average on the 2023 MCAS exams, as the state and country slowly climb back to pre-pandemic academic achievement levels. Data in the graph from the state Department of Education includes scores for grades three to eight.
Brockton Public Schools scored below the state average on the 2023 MCAS exams, as the state and country slowly climb back to pre-pandemic academic achievement levels. Data in the graph from the state Department of Education includes scores for grades three to eight.
Brockton Public Schools scored below the state average on the 2023 MCAS exams, as the state and country slowly climb back to pre-pandemic academic achievement levels. Data in the graph from the state Department of Education includes scores for grades three to eight.
Brockton Public Schools has yet to return to pre-pandemic scores on the MCAS as the state slowly recovers from pandemic-era losses. Data from the state Department of Education shows scores from grades three through eight.
Brockton Public Schools has yet to return to pre-pandemic scores on the MCAS as the state slowly recovers from pandemic-era losses. Data from the state Department of Education shows scores from grades three through eight.

How did Brockton high school students score on MCAS?

The English language arts results for Brockton high school students are the exception to the pattern of a pandemic learning loss. The percentage of Brockton 10th graders exceeding or meeting expectations actually went up in 2022 compared to 2019. This year's results dipped back down a bit but are still at close to the 2019 level.

In 2023, 32% of Brockton high school students met or exceeded expectations on the English exam, while 16% did in math and 20% in science.

In 2022, 36% of Brockton high school students met or exceeded expectations in English, 20% in math and 22% in science.

In 2019, 34% of Brockton high school students met or exceeded expectations in English and 25% in math. Students were not yet taking the current MCAS science exams in 2019, according to the state.

How does Brockton compare to statewide scores for high school students?

Statewide in 2023, 58% of high school students met or exceeded expectations in English, 50% in math and 47% in science.

What about the MCAS graduation requirement?

To receive a high school diploma in Massachusetts a student must "pass" MCAS but that does not mean students have to meet or exceed expectations in order to graduate.

To exceed expectations in English, math or science, a student must score between 530 and 560 on that exam; to meet expectations between 500 and 529; to partially meet expectations from 470 to 499; and scores between 440 and 469 do not meet expectations.

According to the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, to "pass" MCAS for the classes of 2024 and 2025 a student must score on the low end of partially meeting expectations or even not meet expectations if the student also fulfills the requirements of an "educational proficiency plan," which must be developed for any student who scores below expectations. The passing scores are:

  • In English language arts at least 472; or at least 455 and fulfill the requirements of an "educational proficiency plan"

  • In math, at least 486; or at least 469 and and fulfill the requirements of an "educational proficiency plan"

  • In science, score at least 220 on one of the old generation of MCAS science tests; or at least 467 on "next-generation" biology or 470 on introductory physics.

In Brockton, for grade 10 in 2023, the average score was 490 in English, 483 in math and 482 in science. Statewide, the average was 504 in English, 500 in math and 499 in science.

Brockton's five-year commitment

Last school year, Brockton Public Schools pledged to bring at least 90% of its student body up to achieve academic proficiency in five years. The district is in its second year, and district officials did not comment on the slow progress made toward that goal.

However, the district showed growth on the MCAS "accountability" results — which incorporate exam scores, student body growth, attendance data and other factors to paint a larger picture of the exam scores.

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Fourteen of 18 Brockton public schools experienced accountability percentile gains from the previous school year, while last year, only 12 schools achieved gains over the previous year.

“The data shows that despite facing a nationwide ‘COVID slide,’ we are making progress toward our goals by relentlessly focusing on effective instruction and supporting the social emotional needs of our students," said James Cobbs, acting superintendent of schools. "While there is still a lot of work to be done, this is an encouraging sign that we are headed in the right direction."

Mayor Robert Sullivan, left, announces James Cobbs as acting superintendent of Brockton Public Schools at an "emergency meeting" of the Brockton School Committee at the high school on Friday, Sept. 1, 2023.
Mayor Robert Sullivan, left, announces James Cobbs as acting superintendent of Brockton Public Schools at an "emergency meeting" of the Brockton School Committee at the high school on Friday, Sept. 1, 2023.

Over the last year, the district has introduced various programs to help students reach higher academic achievement, including the Multilingual Family Communication Center and the Middle School Honors Academy. The district plans to launch its new reengagement center in the coming weeks.

“There was a critical need for high-quality, thoroughly vetted instructional materials that would support effective instruction and in-turn support positive gains in student achievement. Now that new educational resources are in place, we must keep pushing forward with what we know works,” Deputy Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Sharon Wolder said,

This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Brockton 2023 MCAS test scores compared to 2022, 2019 and state