MA Schools COVID Learning Loss Still 'Major Challenge For Many Students'

MASSACHUSETTS — Post-COVID learning loss continues to be a "major challenge for many students" across the state, according MCAS results released from the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education on Monday.

While more than five dozen districts reached pre-pandemic learning levels for grades 3 through 8, scores remained well below 2019 for many districts, with addressing chronic absenteeism identified as a major cause for the sluggish scores.

Students in grades 3 through 8 showed a 3 percentage increase in math and English proficiency year over year, up from 39 percent to 42 percent. But grade 10 students showed a 6 percentage point decline to 51 percent.

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Both age groups are 10 percentage points down from 2019.

This was the first test year since Massachusetts voters elected to remove passing the MCAS as a high school graduation requirement.

"I'm glad to highlight positive results among several districts while also recognizing the work that we still need to do as a state,” said Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler. "We know our educators and students can do great things when all students are welcomed to school and attend classes every day, and the state's investment in early literacy will build a solid start for future academic success."

In grades 3-8, English language arts results increased from 2024, while math results were mostly flat. Science results were flat in grade 5 and lower in grade 8.

Science scores were statistically similar in grade 5 and dropped in grade 8 and high school.

Compared to 2024, the percentage of students scoring Meeting or Exceeding Expectations in math was unchanged in grades 3-8 at 41 percent. The percentage of students who scored Meeting or Exceeding Expectations in grade 10 fell 3 percentage points to 45.

Math scores remained 9 points off 2019 levels in grades 3 through 8 and 14 points below 2019 in grade 10.

"Today, we are recognizing 63 districts for returning to pre-pandemic achievement levels in grades 3-8, but next year, I hope that all districts have met this benchmark," said Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez." We want to exceed where we were in 2019, but the first step is to get back to that baseline."

This year's information includes data on accountability indicators, such as graduation and chronic absenteeism rates, and it also includes school percentiles, determinations of each district's and school's need for assistance or intervention, and their progress toward targets for each indicator.

Eighty-two percent of schools that received an accountability designation were identified as "not requiring assistance or intervention." Fifty-five percent of schools met, exceeded or made
substantial progress towards their accountability targets.

Individual district scores can be found here.

See Also:

• 9 Massachusetts Colleges Among Best In Country, U.S. News Says In New Ranking
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• Here Are The Best Colleges In MA, According To Niche
• This MA College Is The 2nd Best In The Country, Wall Street Journal Says
• The Top 25 High Schools In Massachusetts For 2025-26: U.S. News & World Report

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