2024 MCAS Results Presentation
Reading, MA — Superintendent of Schools Thomas Milaschewski presented a report regarding the Reading School District’s results on the most recent MCAS assessment. Milaschewski quickly pointed out that the MCAS is simply one measure of academic progress as he began sharing what he called “four positive headlines.”
The first headline is that the Reading Public Schools is “leading the way” in student growth, noting that Reading is one of only sixteen districts in Massachusetts, with all three levels of the district achieving student growth scores above 50 in both math and language. His second headline is that elementary and middle school math achievement is on the rise, with 66% of students meeting or exceeding expectations on the assessment. With middle school scores up over 10% from 2023.
2024-MCAS-District-Level-Data-ReviewParker Middle School being named as one of four “schools of achievement” in the state is Milaschewski’s fourth headline, with the final headline being that grade three students across the district scored in the 95th percentile in language and the 98th percentile in math when compared to their peers around the state.
Overall, Milaschewski reported that in terms of growth and achievement, Reading scored well on the assessment and is trending in the right direction. He attributed these favorable results to implementing high-quality curriculums, robust professional development for teachers, and leveraging systems for growth.
On the flip side, Milaschewski pointed out several areas for growth, including noting that while 66% of students met or exceeded expectations, close to 35% did not score as well. He also noted that while student achievement is closing in on pre-pandemic levels, it is not quite there yet on every level. He also noted that, while Reading has risen in the rankings, its scores are still in the “middle of the pack” compared to the twenty-four peer communities the Finance Committee uses for its comparisons.
Milaschewski also shared that the achievement gap for students of color or those on individual education plans has not changed, with only 35% of students listed as “high needs” meeting or exceeding expectations. “Gaps in achievement are persisting and widening,” Milaschewski noted.
School Committee chair Thomas Wise, while indicating satisfaction with the overall numbers, expressed concern over the achievement gap, pointing out that “[Closing the gap] will move the needle [up] for everybody.”
MIalschewski concluded by providing the next steps that will be taken to meet the challenges presented. These include expanding the roles of literacy coaches, collaborative meetings for English as a second language teachers, student success plans for multi-language learners, implementing the findings in the special education program reviews, and targeted support for Boston resident students. Individual student scores should be in the mail to parents by October 18.
Field House Floor
The School Committee also voted 4-0 to support Town Meeting article fifteen, which will ask the town for an additional $1.3 million to upgrade the playing surface in the Hawkes Field House. Town Meeting approved $1.7 million to replace the current rubberized surface with a similar product this past spring. Milaschewski said that during that presentation, he told Town Meeting that after further assessment, they might choose to request to upgrade the floor to a superior surface. Wise also reported that the Finance Committee had also voted 8-0 to support the article.
RMHS-Field-House-ProjectThe field house is used daily for physical education classes, team sports, and other school activities. There are almost nightly rentals of the space for town sports leagues and other local groups. Additionally, it is also used for community activities such as voting.
“It can’t be emphasized enough the volume of use the facility gets,” School Committee member Erin Gaffen stated. “This [proposal] is a no-brainer.”
The new plan is to replace the current rubber playing court surface with a maple wood floor. Milaschewski shared that the upgraded surface will increase player safety through improved shock absorption, energy return, and elasticity. All of which should reduce injuries caused by continual play and “catastrophic” injuries. “We have an opportunity to invest in a surface that is safer for our students,” Milaschewski declared.
Milaschewski continued to report that the wooden surface will also be more durable for rolling loads, sometimes needed for roof repairs, its longevity will be over fifty years, two and a half times greater than the current type of surface, and could, with maintenance, last up to seventy years. He did note that the wood surface would incur higher annual maintenance costs. He also praised the greater aesthetics of the improved surface, noting that of the other eleven schools in the Middlesex League, ten of them have or are installing wood surfaces.
Facilities Director Joe Huggins described that the primary reason for the increased cost is the extra installation work required for the new floor. He explained that the area under the court would need to be cut away and to be lowered by several feet, then built back up again before the wood is laid down. He also shared that his team is capable of keeping up with the maintenance needs of the new floor. Town Meeting will take up the article in November.
The School Committee adjourned at 8:50 pm.
