Wellesley measures up with new MCAS growth model

The state has come up with a new way to interpret MCAS scores, one that looks at the rate at which students are improving their scores year to year. Here’s the scoop on how Wellesley students did according to the town:

According to the growth model results, high growth is defined as growth in a subject at or above the 60th percentile, typical growth is between the 40th and 60th percentile, and low growth is below the 40th percentile. This year’s growth report includes results for students in grades 4–8 and grade 10 in English language arts and mathematics. The data is calculated using historical MCAS results going back at least two years.

According to the state’s new growth model released today that compares students with similar MCAS score histories, the median or “typical” student at Wellesley High School grew at the 56th percentile in English language arts and at the 56th percentile in mathematics. At Wellesley Middle School, the “typical” student grew at the 53rd percentile in English language arts in 6th grade, the 64th percentile in English Language Arts in 7th grade and the 37th percentile in English Language Arts in 8th grade (98% of our 8^th graders scored advanced or proficient).  In mathematics at the middle school, the “typical” student grew at the 58th percentile in 6th grade, the 43.5th percentile in 7th grade and the 50th percentile in 8th grade. Results also show that the median or “typical” student across the district in Wellesley grew at the 64th percentile in 4th grade and the 57th percentile in 5th grade in ELA. In math, our 4th graders are in the 61st percentile and our 5th graders are in the 54th percentile in math. As you can see, in all categories except 8th grade English Language Arts, we are in the typical growth range of the 40th  – 60th percentiles.

For more details, visit the MCAS site and fish around for specific subject, school, etc data.