Shrewsbury High School

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Since 2006, Shrewsbury has also improved overall in the number of students scoring in either the advanced or proficient categories in all but one of the 18 MCAS tests administered. This year, seven rankings placed the school in the top 10 percent in all districts in the state. Grade three mathematics was the highest scoring test, ranking in the top... 4 percent of the state. There were a few areas of concern, said Cummings, as some test scores decreased. The most significant jump was grade 10 English scores, which decreased from the top 9 percent in 2008 to the top 22 percent this year. Cummings said the decrease is not as significant as meets the eye. "The difference is only eight students, or a slight 2 percent, not in the advanced or proficient category as last year," said Cummings. "Sometimes these slight changes can dramatically impact your ranking." The MCAS is the annual set of exams administered to students in grades three through 10 in the subjects of math and English. In three grades, science and technology is now tested as well. Despite the continued success and positive test results, some schools in the school district did not achieve the adequate yearly progress goal mandated by the federal No Child Left Behind Act in 2001. The adequate yearly progress goal is established in each school district with the same ultimate goal, said Cumming. The goal is to have every student ranking proficient in the MCAS by 2014. Cummings said while the Shrewsbury school district made the adequate yearly progress in the aggregate, several schools failed to reach their rate of improvement goal due to special education and low-income subgroups. The district must now offer school choice and pay for tutoring out of its Title 1 funds to low-income and special education students in the failing schools that did not attain adequate yearly progress goals due to state restrictions. Cummings noted that 54 percent of Massachusetts school districts are failing to make adequate yearly progress due to subgroups. Superintendent Joseph ...Read More