Superintendent highlights gains in growth metrics but MCAS results remain embargoed

Superintendent Jason DeFalco used his Aug. 11 presentation to walk the School Committee through end‑of‑year assessment results and growth measures, saying many grade levels showed meaningful ELA gains while math results were more mixed.

"Our second grade students outperform 72 percent of second graders that had the same score as them in the beginning of the year," DeFalco said when summarizing cohort growth. He emphasized that growth and achievement are distinct measures: students may show large year‑to‑year growth yet remain below an achievement threshold.

DeFalco said the district saw an across‑the‑board increase in the percentage of students meeting or exceeding expectations in ELA from the beginning to the end of the year, though math results had peaks and valleys across grades. He highlighted instructional changes tied to improved growth—flexible RTI blocks, focused PLC collaboration, and instructional coaching—as contributors to the progress.

DeFalco also told the committee that official MCAS performance and cut‑score data were embargoed at the time of the meeting and expected to be released to districts soon. "The embargoed, actual, like, performance and growth results, we think should be out to schools and districts by next week," he said, and he plans a public presentation once the state data are released. The committee agreed to finalize portions of the superintendent evaluation after the MCAS release.