Westford Students Do Significantly Better Than State Average On MCAS

 Statewide achievement increased on 12 of the 17 Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) tests that took place this spring, with Westford’s scores outpacing the state average in every category.

Over 90 percent of Westford tenth graders achieved scores of either “proficient” or “advanced” on the English, Mathematics tests as well as Science and Technology/Engineering tests in 2013, similar to 2012, with over 90 percent of eighth, seventh and fifth graders also reaching that threshold in English.

Westford also had fewer students in the “needs improvement” or “warning” in more than half of the 17 tests given across various age groups.

However, compared to state averages, Westford scored significantly higher than the state average on all of the 17 tests, in particular on the Science and Technology/Engineering test, where Westford was 30 percentage points higher overall than the average Massachusetts school district in terms of students at “proficient” level or above.

Westford’s weakest area came on the English and Mathematics test for fourth graders, where “proficient” or better levels declined by seven and four points respectively from last year, putting Westford’s fourth graders only approximately 20 percent better than the state average.

Detailed scores and comparisons on Westford's MCAS scores are available on the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education website.