School Officials Analyze MCAS Scores

Attleboro Superintendent Kenneth Sheehan praised the Attleboro School District's Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment Exam (MCAS) scores this week.

"You would be hard pressed in the entire state to find a school system with the demographics we have in fact reach those totals of six 'number one' schools and three 'number 2's,'" he told the Attleboro School Committee at Monday's meeting which has since aired on DoubleACS.

Sheehan's comments were in response to scores, released last month, which ranked Attleboro as an overall district as a "2" on a 1-5 scale (1 being the best and 5 being the worst). The school district's overall ranking is as good as its lowest scoring school. Six of Attleboro's schools scored a "1" and three scored a "2."

Hyman-Fine, Studley School, Thacher Elementary, Brennan Middle School, and Coelho Middle School all received a "1."

Hill-Roberts, Wamsutta Middle School and Attleboro High School received a "2."

While Wamsutta dropped from a "1" to a "2" this year, Studley, Coelho, and Hyman Fine all jumped from a "2" to a "1".

Vice Principal David Sawyer said that while Wamsutta saw a dip and concerns should be addressed, one year of scores should not affect the overall view of the school.

"We really run a risk to put too much weight on this year's scores," he said. "It's the trend that's important.

"... What we can't do is let these results come in again the next year."

Sawyer said the high school's scores, which also ranked it in the 30th percentile in the state, seemed consistent with other scores in the state with similar districts.

"When communities have a big high school like we do, they pretty much have a score in the low 30's like we do," he said.

In response to a question from school committee member Ken Parent expressing concern over Hill-Roberts Elementary, Sheehan said adjustments are being made to improve the schools' score.

"Your concern is absolutely legitimate," Sheehan said. "Of all the schools there, that's the school I had the concern about most. However, I think the district did a tremendous job in hiring Scott Johnson as its principal for Hill Roberts [to be] the education leader. Right from the start, he recognized some particular things and he made changes that would impact these particular subjects, especially in English Language Arts and mathematics."

Sheehan added that work needs to continue.

"You do not get excellent results by resting," he said. "You get excellent results by saying 'where can we improve every single area, in every single school in every single subgroup?'"

To view the full presentation on DoubleACS, click here.