Our MCAS scores continue to improve in our schools. Hooray!
The following message we sent out this morning from the School Department:
Dear Shrewsbury Families,
Yesterday, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education released its first set of “growth model” data. The “student growth percentile” was calculated for each public school and school district in Massachusetts in order to demonstrate how much improvement, on average, students in that school or district made on MCAS tests compared to their peers across the state, in order to show growth over time for the same group of students. This is different than the traditional measure of one grade level cohort’s MCAS results vs. the next year’s results (e.g., Grade 3 results in 2008 vs. 2009).
As a district, Shrewsbury’s results are exceptional. The DESE indicates that a growth percentile of 60 or higher is considered to be “high growth,” with 50 representing the median. Shrewsbury students collectively achieved a growth percentile of 64 in English language arts and a 60 in mathematics, both of which are excellent. To put this in context, these results are among the very best in the state. We can be extremely proud of the following:
Shrewsbury’s overall ranking, including all districts of any grade configuration with at least 20 students taking the test (note: charter schools are counted by the DESE as districts):
English language arts: Ranked in top 29 districts out of 379, or top 8%
Mathematics: Ranked in top 66 districts out of 379, or top 17%
Even more impressive is our ranking when doing more of an “apples to apples” comparison. We rank at the very top of the state when comparing ourselves to districts that include all levels of MCAS testing (Grades 3-10) and are comparable in size (at least 1,000 students taking the exam; Shrewsbury had 2,600):
English language arts:
Westford (67)
(tie) Lexington, Shrewsbury (64)
Brookline (62)
Mathematics:
Lexington (65)
(tie) Brookline, Duxbury, Groton-Dunstable, Weston (62)
(tie) Hingham, Shrewsbury, Triton Regional (60)
For more information, see today’s Telegram & Gazette, Boston Globe, boston.com, or go to the DESE link www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/growth
As with any standardized measure of student performance, it is important to note that minor differences in scores may not be educationally significant, and therefore it would not be appropriate to read too much into small variations between districts. However, there is no question that Shrewsbury’s overall performance is extremely strong on the “growth” measure, which, more than traditional methods, demonstrates the impact that schools are having on students over time. There are several factors that contribute to this success, including outstanding efforts by our students, skilled work by our educators, high levels of involvement from our families, and great support from various elements of the community. These results confirm what many of us already know: Shrewsbury’s schools are among the finest in Massachusetts. That is something to celebrate!
Respectfully,
Joe Sawyer
Now I can't (and won't) speak for the Superintendent, School Department, or School Committee, but I'm thoroughly please with how good our schools have been and I credit it to the good work of our teachers and our parents. They're a cut above.
23 comments:
lets not thanks to the students for continuing to pull off great scores in diminishing budgets
Gee, could the huge infulux of first generation emigrents kids who have bought up many of the McMancions have had an effect on these scores?
I shudder to thing that the 5:16 poster could be a parent. Between the illiterate spelling and narrow-minded, border-line racist comment, I truly hope you don't think you represent all of Shrewsbury!!
Poster at 5:16 may not be the majority, however...a good size silent minority. One who does not like supporting a comunity who will not intergrate into our society, shop in our stores, or eat in our resturaunts. Our jobs being taken from abroad, if that's not enough how about just importing labor to take the high paying ones. Ever walk through EMC or UMASS in the past few years? How about looking for a decent job that use to pay a decent wage, now just $10 - $15 service jobs. This is even for people with a BA or BS degrees. When the RE market really tanks, guess who are the only people who will have the cash to buy in this town as people have to move to a rental in Worcester or worse. Is there a RE office for Shrewbury in the far east? Seems like it. Ok, CBS'ers - 80% of this blog let me have it.
As I drive down the steets in the new parts of town and see all the money of years my taxes going to educate people who have just been here less only a few years or so. Let's just invite the whole extended family over too. Thus taxing our healthcare services, a story for another day How about a refund.
So if being a member of CBS means not being a racist, then sign me up! Is that all you've got?
6:32
Actually I walked through UMASS a few months ago when a member of my family had a medical emergency and a talented, kind and dedicated Doctor from Pakistan interpritted the EKG. I walked through the halls at my building the other day when I had a nice conversation with our new Indian Tennant who employs 40 IT Professionals. He probably pays more taxes in a month than you do in a decade.
They don't eat at our Restaurants? Funny, I'm sure that was a complaint against Italians in years gone by, and now everyone lists Italian as their favorite food. Go to the new Indian Restaurant at Christmas Tree Plaza some time. The food's pretty good and a nice young hard working couple are trying to make a better life for themselves running an independant business. God bless them.
Are the Eastern Populations driving our MCAS Scores up? If they are we should invite more over. I'd rather have intelligent hard working Easteners living here than moronic rascists.
Can't get more than a $10/hour job? Look in a mirror to find the blame instead of at hard working intelligent resourceful people "yearning to breath free". By the way do you even know where that comes from?
We are a nation of imigrants. My ancestors came here and broke their backs digging ditches and laying brick while a-holes like you called them Wops. The new immigrants are doing medical research, writing software and excelling in the technology which will shape our world in the 21st century. They're creating the new jobs. We're lucky to have them here.
By the way, I'm no CBSer or moonbat liberal. The day I turned 18 I registered as a Republican so that I could vote for Ronald Reagan. The first thing I read every day is the Wall Steet Journal Editorial Page and I cheer. I will stand my conservative credentials against anyone. This has nothing to do with conservative or liberal. This is about you being a black hearted rascist. I actually feel bad for you, that you look at life through such a hateful lense. You are a very pathetic person.
Mark. Why would you print such rascist dribble?
To the comment about being a member of CBS means you aren't a racist - what does the CBS television station have to do with this conversation??????
What the heck is a CBSer?
Their website (http://www.citizensbettershrewsbury.org) says, "CBS is a group of civic-minded individuals! We help the community stay informed about local government, we use our analytical skills to dig in and understand key issues, and we communicate our findings through a variety of channels."
CBS = Higher taxes, and more emigrants taking our jobs away, thus putting people who have paid tax into the system in the poor house.
Thanks John Masiello! I hope that people realize that there are more people like you in Shrewsbury than like 6:32.
signed, proud moonbat liberal
Wow - the SRT crowd is sure misguided and threatened by anyone who believes in the good of the town. To the 10:11 am poster - you appear to be a rather misguided individual. Why don't you try to learn more about the issues the schools are facing and then you might be able to see why the MCAS news is really quite remarkable.
I feel sorry for the 6:32 poster as well. Thank you John for your reply. It has always amazed me that people do not realize that we are all descendants of immigrants. We ALL need to me more tolerant of other cultures. Use that energy to learn about other cultures rather than to run from them.
Let us not forget...all of this should be a celebration of how well our schools are doing. They are doing well despite the budgetary constraints. Imagine how well they might me with an appropriate budget. Good work!!
Ok, ok, I'll cool it after this, I still say the scores still seem artificially held up, but when one of these secluded people turns out to be plotting a mall or airplane shoot-up or bomb, then tell me we are letting too many unchecked emigrants into the country, and yes in to our town. Remember the Sudbury guy who had to travel every day through Shrewsbury to a job in
Worc.
Lord, the ignorance is killing me. 11:37, do you remember Timothy McVeigh, fine American soldier? The kids that shot up Columbine were white. Abu Ghraib? Waterboarding? Gitmo? Look back further. Slavery and the associated muders? Yes, white Americans did that. How about the Puritans burning an entire tribe of Pequot alive, including women and children, here in New England? Belgians in the Congo, the Crusades, terrorism in Ireland. Hitler and Stalin, both white! These terrorists killed MILLIONS. The list can go on for a LONG TIME of crimes that were not committed by people from predominantly Muslim countries (or Hindu, or Buddhist...)
I have a coworker - an immigrant! - who lost his sister to terrorists in Columbia, and a dear friend - yes, also an immigrant! - who paid thousands of dollars in ransom to rescue a family member in Pakistan from kidnappers. My friends did not respond by blaming entire races or religion for their suffering.
By the way, as any Shrewsbury fourth grader could tell you, "emigrants" leave and "immigrants" enter a country. Wow, I would feel much better if people such as you had to take a citizenship test before voting.
10:36
I'm on your side, but I have to be honest. When you start talking about how evil white people are today because of Slavery, Puritan treatment of Native Americans, Nazis and the Crusades, I'm sorry but I have to say it...
MOONBAT!!
Let's recap:—
I published an article bragging about how well we did in our schools.
Frankly, I expected a comment about school spending.
Instead, out of right field, some bigot railed against foreigners.
Why did I allow such a wacked-out comment?
Three reasons.
1) Because I'm not here to censor racism and/or ignorance.
B) Because there are so many people who agree with that commenter. She/he is not alone, and we need to realize that there are a lot of bigots out there.
III) Because there was no way the opinion was just going to lay (lie?) there. This blog is about many things; one of them is discussion. There are many people on many sides of many issues who read this blog. Sure enough, other commenters would take this person to task. Let's call it a self-correcting feature of the blog. It shows readers how many intelligent non-racists we've got around here.
I'm sorry the post was offensive, and I knew that it would be when I allowed it. We're a strong bunch and I hope we can handle it.
Would I let it happen again? Maybe not. It's been a bit stinging, and I've actually rejected many comments on this one article which you'll never see.
This blog is intended to help solve problems in our town. And this comment-thread hasn't helped at all. And that's my responsibility.
Rock on.
So if the scores are so high, why should we increase spending on the schools?
WHERE'S THE PROBLEM??
"...we need to realize that there are a lot of bigots out there."
Mark,
That's why you're a liberal and I'm a conservative. Maybe I'm naive and maybe I give people more credit than they are due, but I believe that the overwhelming and vast majority of people are basically good at heart. I refuse to believe that there are "a lot" of bigots out there. We all have our foolish little preconceptions about groups of people, but in the end, I think most people just as soon live and let live.
This is why I'm a conservative. I have faith in most individuals to be good people, behave responsibly and do the right thing.
All I can say is I guess I am a "silent racist".
Hello All,
I am a Republican, a CBSer, and I believe an open minded person. My husband is half asian and comes from a wonderful background of German, French, and Fillipino.
He was born in San Francisco joined the army to serve at 18 and ended up graduating from West Point and being deployed to Bosnia. The asian side of his family shares that proud tradition of working hard to make it in America much like my Italian great grandparents shared when they came to our country.
While I find some of the comments border line racist (or at the very least narrow minded) I support Mark Adler for keeping them up. I believe this country is truly great when we all have the right to speak up and I am grateful folks like John Masiello can clearly articulate why some of these comments seem hateful and counterproductive.
I am a firm believer that Shrewsbury is a great community because of the mix of long time residents and new folks. The longtime residents give us a sense of history and perspective while the new folks give us a fresh set of eyes and willingness to innovate. They both are needed to make a strong community.
It is sad that all folks can't see this but I do believe the majoriy of long time residents and new residents embrace our diversity as well as our proud history as a great place to call home!
Chris Juetten
Mark,
Are these some of the questions that you were expecting?
1) How much will a new school improve the scores?
2) Will the taxpayers be getting enough bang for the buck via improved scores?
3) With the tax bills already including the high school, Floral St., Oak St. and Parker, how much more will the new Sherwood add?
I dont agree that most Shrewsbury people embrace diversity. I think they say they dont mind because thats what society wants to hear. But, deep down, we all have our own silent opionions!
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