Friday, January 14, 2011

MVRCS MCAS Summary 2003-2004 - VERY Different Than 2009-2010

After discovering the manner in which MVRCS does its analysis of MCAS scores within its current Annual Reports and how they rate in comparison to the sending districts, we thought we'd see if that is how they have always done it (as it didn't seem familiar). If you go to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education website at Mass DESE Main Page, in the upper left hand corner is a 'Search' tool to search the entire site. We conducted a search for 'Mystic Valley Regional Charter School' and were able to see all of the past Annual Reports that MVRCS has filed with the DESE (some pretty interesting reading we must say). We didn't go through all of them but for the 2003-2004 Annual Report MVRCS must have just done better as a whole when compared to sending districts as they didn't do any complex weighted analysis. We found the following information within the report (the report actually included MCAS results but didn't transfer clearly) and it is very different than the manner in which MVRCS now presents MCAS scores. We're guessing that it's because they are no longer superior to all of the sending districts. It would as though many of the sending districts have made some strides in MCAS testing whereas it seems MVRCS is having difficulty maintaining their prior results and/or is showing signs of bigger issues within their MCAS scores. In either case, we found the change in methodology and approach interesting and worth sharing.

From: MVRCS 2004 Annual Report Filed w/ DESE (MCAS Analysis and Discussion begins on page 17)

Method of Assessment
The Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS)
Summary of Results
Results from the MCAS indicate that 92 % of fourth graders scored in the categories of Advanced, Proficient and Needs Improvement on the English Language Arts Component while 87% of fourth graders met the same criteria for Mathematics. Third grade reading scores reflected a rate of 96% of students falling into the categories outlined above. For sixth grade Math, 70% of the students achieved scores that fell into the categories of Advanced, Proficient and Needs Improvement. Ninety eight percent of 7th graders reached the target categories for Language Arts. For eighth grade Math, 65% of the students reached the target areas.

Grade 3 – READING
PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS IN COMPARISON WITH STATE AND MAJOR SENDING-DISTRICTS

Grade 5- Science and
The MVRCS seventh grade class put an exceptional effort forth. Statewide results revealed that the MVRCS class of 2008 achieved a ranking of 21st in the state in a field of 444 school districts. A top 5% state ranking is quite unique for the local region of cities that MVRCS is located in. The percentage of 7th grade students that successfully passed the Language Arts assessment was 98%. MVRCS students that reached the advanced level nearly doubled the state average. Fifteen percent of MVRCS students reached the advanced level as compared to 8% for the state average. The students that reached the proficient range numbered 76%. Fifty seven percent of students reached this level of achievement statewide.
MVRCS students achieved in a competitive fashion when compared to students from around the state and major sending-districts. The most significant outcomes are the positive movements MVRCS students made out of warning categories when compared to their counterparts from around the state and from the major sending-districts. MVRCS students are advancing toward higher scores at a faster rate than the other students analyzed. The same can be said when comparing positive increases in the amount of students reaching the proficient or advanced categories. MVRCS students made a larger increase over the previous year than the state as a whole and the sending-districts. For example, fourth grade students receiving warning categories in Math fell from 24% to 13%. None of the major sending-districts’ results or the statewide results reflected this dramatic of a movement.
When considering students that received a passing score by reaching either the needs improvement, proficient or advanced categories, MVRCS students also competed strongly when compared to students from the major sending-districts and to students from around the state. Third grade results for Reading showed that MVRCS had the lowest percentage of students in the warning category. Fourth grade results for Math showed that MVRCS had the second lowest percentage of students in the warning category. In fourth grade Language Arts, MVRCS students recorded the fourth lowest percentage. In sixth grade Math, the students recorded the second lowest percentage in the warning category. For seventh grade Language Arts, scores reflected a tie with Melrose for the lowest percentage. In eighth grade Math, the students recorded the third lowest percentage of scores in the warning category. In eighth grade Language Arts, student scores reflected the second lowest percentage of scores in the warning category when compared to the major sending-districts.
2003 MCAS Highlights

Seventh grade students ranked 21st in a field of 444 districts in English/Language Arts

98% of seventh grade students received a passing score

96% of third grade students received passing scores in Reading

Fourth grade Math scores reflected all-time highs in advanced and proficient categories

Fourth grade Math scores that fell into the warning category showed a decrease of 9% from the previous year

92% of fourth grade students received passing scores in Language Arts

A higher percentage of MVRCS eighth grade students received passing scores in Math and History than their counterparts around the state

6 comments:

  1. What a different attitude and approach between then and now but then again, what a huge difference in scores! Why would they weight the analysis that they currently provide to parents - either their method is working or it isn't - it shouldn't matter what district the students come from. Is that to say that they can't expect ANY Malden student who lives within the Salemwood district to do well at MVRCS?

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  2. If I understand this right, according to the report above for 2003-2004, "96% of third grade students received passing scores in Reading" and in 2010 only 71% of 3rd graders received a passing score in Reading? And MVRCS is PROUD of the 2010 test scores????

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  3. They are more concerned with athletics now.......academics take 2nd place.

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  4. 2010 Reading MCAS Scores for 3rd grade are higher than they were in 2003. Note also that no comparison for 10th grade scores is posted as a link. You have got to be kidding about the Salemwood Comment try doing a straight comparision on that and its clearly not fair. When called out on it they put it in comment and then put a link to the state sight but no comparison for people to easily see. Wont post where current the latest 10th grade MCAS kids were when in 3rd grade because they know it shows that the growth is spectacular. Claim they don't have time to do comparison. Really but can do all the other that fits their need. Have a little integrity. This school is not perfect none is but it blows the others around here away.

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  5. You understand wrong. 97% of third grade passed in 2010 vs 96% in 2003. Oh yes it was 71% Advanced and Proficient. This was higher score than in 2003 but you won't see that data on this site. Will be interesting to see if you even see this post. Got the 97% from the new link to the State for 10th grade they just put up. Of course no comparison with sending District on that link as they really don't want people to see that w

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  6. To Anonymous @ January 17th 10:36AM
    Are you suggesting that 97% of the 3rd grade class passed in 2010 by including those students who scored within 'Needs Improvement'? Yes, they didn't fail or fall into the 'Warning' category but if they need to improve, they are NOT reading at or above grade level as all students SHOULD be doing. As a parent, anything less than grade level should be a warning sign to both parents and the administration. And yes, it was higher than the 3rd grade class of 2003 by 2% (again only taking into count the Advanced Proficient and Proficient students as anything else should be seen as unacceptable).
    Not sure what new link you are referring to in regards to the 97%...the State for the 10th grade just put up but we couldn't find it under the MCAS section or MVRCS section of the DESE. Maybe you have a bit of inside information that isn't available to the rest of us parents.

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