MCAS Results Highlight Importance of Teaching and Learning Strategy
NEW BEDFORD, MA – This week, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education publicly released MCAS results for all schools and districts across the Commonwealth, including tested grades 3–8 in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics, Grade 5 & 8 in Science, and Grade 10 in ELA, Mathematics, and Science. This week also brings the release of state accountability determinations, which show how schools are progressing in meeting academic and school improvement targets. Added to the College Board’s recent release of Advanced Placement performance, the results will be presented to the New Bedford School Committee at its upcoming October meeting.
This month, parents and guardians will receive individual student reports with their child’s MCAS results, along with notice of the school and district report card.
Elementary School Highlights
Several New Bedford elementary schools continue to demonstrate notable gains in student achievement and student growth, reflected in improving accountability percentiles. These results confirm that the district’s focus on early literacy and mathematics instruction is making a measurable difference for students.
Campbell, Congdon, Gomes, Pacheco and Swift showed sustained improvement in both achievement and accountability ranking.
Chronic absenteeism has improved significantly across the district, with most schools now surpassing pre-pandemic attendance levels — a critical factor in raising achievement.
At the same time, several elementary schools showed declines in achievement, underscoring the need to increase support for students and staff, refocus teaching and learning, and insist on ambitious targets for school improvement.
Secondary School Focus: AP and IB Expansion
While elementary schools continue to lead the way in growth, secondary schools remain a priority for redesign, scheduling changes, and expanded offerings.
Record Advanced Placement (AP) performance:
New Bedford High School is celebrating record Advanced Placement results. According to the College Board’s recent Five-Year Summary Report, 72.6% of NBHS AP test takers scored a 3 or higher on at least one AP exam in 2025 — the fifth consecutive year of growth and the highest result in school history, representing a 22-point increase in the percentage of students scoring 3 or higher compared to five years ago.
“These results show that when we raise expectations and expand opportunity, our students rise to the challenge,” said Superintendent Andrew O’Leary.
International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program:
Keith, Normandin, and Roosevelt Middle Schools are strengthening implementation of the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP), which fosters inquiry, critical thinking, and global awareness, building a strong foundation for high school and beyond.
Challenges and Next Steps
Despite these gains, aggregate performance on Grade 8 and Grade 10 MCAS exams has not met district goals. Accountability rankings for both the high school and middle schools remain below expectations, highlighting the need to translate advanced learning expansions into broad-based gains in achievement and growth.
The district will realign resources and supports to accelerate secondary performance, with a focus on:
- Realigning schedules to support ELA and Math achievement in Grades 8 and 10.
- Expanding interventions for students near proficiency thresholds.
- Building on chronic absenteeism gains by translating improved attendance into stronger academic progress and deeper school connectedness.
- Using smart assessments and subgroup data (low-income, English learners, students with disabilities) to ensure the highest standards and meaningful progress for our most underserved learners.
Superintendent’s Statement
“New Bedford’s MCAS and accountability results confirm that strategy matters. We are seeing real progress in many elementary schools and in key initiatives like AP expansion, IB programming, and chronic absenteeism recovery. At the same time, the data show us where urgent work is needed — especially in our middle and high schools. We will continue to raise expectations, and we are determined to match the promise and ability of our young people.” — Superintendent Andrew O’Leary