February 3, 2004
ROMNEY ANNOUNCES MCAS RETEST RESULTS FOR CLASS OF 2005
MCAS results show students are requiring fewer tries to pass
WORCESTER – Governor Mitt Romney today released the results from the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System retest administered in November 2003, saying more students than ever are passing the math and English portions of the exam after just two attempts.
Romney said that results from the November retest, the first retest taken by the class of 2005, show that an unprecedented 85 percent of the class has already passed both portions of the exams, earning the competency determination needed to get a high school diploma.
In comparison, 76 percent of the class of 2003 and 84 percent of the class of 2004 had passed both exams after the second attempt.
Romney congratulated the students who passed the test and pledged his continued support to those who have not yet met the high school graduation requirement through extra help programs. In his budget filed last week, Romney included an additional $20 million to help students in the state’s lowest-performing school districts. He noted that in these districts, only 45 percent of students passed the MCAS on their first try, compared with 77 percent in the rest of the state. These new programs are in addition to the $10 million in MCAS remediation funds already appropriated to help 11th and 12th grade students pass the MCAS.
“It is great to see our students and teachers working so hard and showing such great improvement,” said Romney. “For all of those who have not passed the MCAS, we will not give up on you and we pledge even more support this year to help you meet the requirements.”
“I am extremely proud of where we are today,” said Education Commissioner David Driscoll. “Our students are passing the MCAS exam in larger numbers and sooner than ever before, our achievement gap is closing, our minorities and LEP students are succeeding, and our students as a whole are reaching the high standards we have set for them. Like the success of the Patriots, this achievement has come from the hard work and focus of our teachers and students.”
For the classes of 2004 and 2005, the results indicate that an achievement gap still exists but is narrowing for some subgroups of each class. In the class of 2004, 62 percent of limited English proficient students have passed the test as have 75 percent of students with disabilities, 78 percent of African-Americans and 76 percent of Hispanics. In the class of 2005, 51 percent of limited English proficient students have passed the exam as have 60 percent of students with disabilities, 64 percent of African-Americans and 60 percent of Hispanics.
Among the other findings:
Black and Hispanic students from the class of 2005 both made tremendous gains on their first retest opportunity. After the original Grade 10 test taken in May 2003, just 47 percent of African-Americans and 42 percent of Hispanics had earned their competency determination; after their first retest, 64 percent of African-Americans and 60 percent of Hispanics had passed.
The passing rate of vocational school students is comparable to the passing rate of all students. In the class of 2003, 95 percent have passed, 90 percent in the class of 2004 and 78 percent in the class of 2005.
A gap is still evident when comparing the results of urban and non-urban students. In the class of 2003, 97 percent of non-urban and 90 percent of urban students have passed; in the class of 2004, 96 percent of non-urban and 82 percent of urban students have passed; and in the class of 2005, 91 percent of non-urban and 69 percent of urban students have passed.
Students in the class of 2003 who took the July retest were ineligible for the November exam, but will be eligible to take the one offered in March. In all, 95 percent of students in the class of 2003 have earned their competency determination.
For the full report, including individual high school results, please view the Department of Education’s Web site at www.doe.mass.edu/mcas.
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