2004 AYP Results: Massachusetts and Most Schools and Districts Meet Targets

NEW BEDFORD - Massachusetts as a state made Adequate Yearly Progress in both English and math in 2004 for students in the aggregate, a feat that moves the Commonwealth’s schools and districts steps closer to meeting the federal goal of having all students reach proficiency by 2014.

The 2004 Cycle III Reports released Thursday show that in the aggregate, 96 percent of districts made AYP in English, 95 percent made AYP in math and all but seven (95 percent) made AYP in both subjects. Among schools, 92 percent made AYP in English, 90 percent made AYP in math and 87 percent made AYP in both subjects.

Statewide Massachusetts did not made AYP for all of its subgroups: in English students with disabilities and Hispanics did not make AYP, and in math, African Americans, Hispanics, students with disabilities and low-income students did not make AYP.

“What works best about this system is that the results force us not to just look at the overall picture, but at the details, and it is by focusing on the details that we will see continued improvement,” Education Commissioner David P. Driscoll said at a press conference at the Roosevelt Middle School in New Bedford. “Even though we have some of the highest standards in the nation we are still making AYP as a state, and that is a tremendous accomplishment. However, it is critical now that we refocus our energies and target the students in each subgroup who are still struggling.”

Subgroup results are reported when there are 40 or more students per year of a certain ethnicity or category in a school or district. Among subgroup performance at schools that meet that criteria:

• Limited English Proficient students made AYP in 81 percent of schools in English, 69 percent of schools in math and 68 percent of schools in both subjects.
• African-American students made AYP in 71 percent of schools in English, 53 percent of schools in math and 51 percent of schools in both subjects.
• Low-income students made AYP in 76 percent of schools in English, 63 percent of schools in math and 54 percent of schools in both subjects.
• White students made AYP in 97 percent of schools in English, 95 percent of schools in math and 95 percent of schools in all subjects.

Schools and districts that did not make AYP for the first time either in the aggregate or for their subgroups this year will face no immediate consequences, but if they fail to make AYP for two consecutive years will be formally identified for improvement.

According to the 2004 improvement and performance ratings, the state rated as high performing and “on target” for improvement in English and moderate performing and “on target for improvement in math.

In all, 1737 schools received performance ratings ranging from critically low to very high, based on MCAS performance over the past two years. The state’s target for English was 75.6, the mid-point in “moderate,” and the state’s target for math was 60.8, in “low.”

Statewide, 89 percent of districts rated high or very high in English and 31 percent rated high or very high in math. Among schools, 72 percent rated high or very high in English and 34 percent rated high or very high in math.

1631 of the 1737 schools also received improvement ratings, which compare MCAS results from the last two years to performance from the previous two years. Of the 1595 improvement ratings released in English, 69 percent were at or above their target improvement; of the 1574 ratings in math, 59 percent were at or above their target improvement.

Of the state’s 241 districts that were rated, 69 percent were at or above their target in English and 69 percent were at or above their target in math.

The improvement and performance results are based on each school or district's composite performance index (CPI). A school or district’s CPI rating ranges from 0 to 100 based on how close they are to having all students performing at the proficient level or higher.

Officials also released an updated list of “Schools and Districts in Need of Improvement.” A preliminary list was released last month, but as a result of appeals that have been filed since then, 13 schools and 3 districts have been removed from the lists. In addition, as a result of further analysis, 5 schools and 2 districts have been added to the list.

In total, there are now 324 schools and 132 districts In Need of Improvement, 27 schools in Corrective Action, and 25 schools in Restructuring.

For more information on AYP, performance ratings or school accountability, visit www.doe.mass.edu/sda.