MCAS Data Shows Back-to-Back Accountability Gains for Brockton Public Schools

For the second consecutive year, the district posted significant gains in Accountability Percentiles

BROCKTON- The 2023 MCAS and Accountability results, released today by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, show that 14 out of 18 Brockton Public Schools experienced accountability percentile gains from the previous school year.

The Massachusetts Accountability Model factors in achievement, student growth, and other measures to compute an overall accountability percentile for each public school in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Last year, 12 Brockton schools experienced gains when compared to pre-pandemic levels.

“The data shows that despite facing a nationwide ‘COVID slide’, we are making progress toward our goals by relentlessly focusing on effective instruction and supporting the social emotional needs of our students.  While there is still a lot of work to be done, this is an encouraging sign that we are headed in the right direction,” said Dr. James Cobbs, Acting Superintendent of Schools.

The Brockton Public Schools is in year two of its five-year strategic plan. Last school year, the district pledged to help 90 percent of its students achieve academic proficiency in five years.

In fall 2022, the district launched a new Middle School Honors Academy, increasing access to higher level coursework at every BPS middle school and the Davis K-8 School. The Bilingual Department redesigned its Sheltered English Immersion classrooms at the elementary level to allow a more flexible range of programming for English learners.

Over the last several years and with feedback from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Brockton Public Schools identified and implemented high-quality instructional materials. The district is currently in its first full year of implementing a new ELA curriculum at the elementary level and will soon launch a new districtwide curriculum for social emotional learning.

“There was a critical need for high-quality, thoroughly vetted instructional materials that would support effective instruction and in-turn support positive gains in student achievement. Now that new educational resources are in place, we must keep pushing forward with what we know works,” said Sharon Wolder, Deputy Superintendent of Teaching and Learning.

In response to the significant emotional impact of the pandemic, the school district prioritized mentorship programs and partnered with community groups to support families. Last winter, the district opened a Multilingual Family Communication Center to better engage parents and guardians in their child’s education. This year, the district will bolster its reengagement and restorative justice efforts by breaking down silos between departments.

“In the coming weeks, the district will launch its new reengagement center which will merge under one roof multiple departments that were previously working in isolation. This dedicated group shares one simple vision: To get students who are struggling back on track,” said Wolder. “We look forward to sharing more about that work with the public soon.”

School Accountability Percentiles

Chart provided by the Brockton Public Schools Office of Accountability and School Improvement.