Lynn Subgroups Show Considerable Gains on 10th Grade ELA MCAS Exam

A press release from the Boston Public School system reported that over the last six years, 10th grade BPS students have seen a 21-point increase in English Language Arts (ELA) proficiency rates. Since 2009, Lynn has also seen considerable gains in its 10th grade ELA proficiency rates. Over that time period, proficiency rates on the 10th grade exam in Lynn have increased from 63% in 2009 to 83% in 2013.

BPS also reported that Hispanic and African American students are also making gains and that the city has cut a 30 point achievement gap to 10 points this year. In Lynn, the proficiency rate of African American students has increased from 53% in 2009 to 82% this year; the proficiency rate of Hispanic students has increased 20 points over the same time period.

This year the 10th grade proficiency rate by race/ethnicity in Lynn were as follows:

• African American: 82% (Compared to 83% of African American students statewide)
• Asian: 88% (Compared to 92% of Asian students statewide)
• Hispanic/Latino: 77% (Compared to 79% of Hispanic/Latino students statewide)
• White: 91% (Compared to 95% of White students statewide)

Overall, 91% of 10th grade students in Massachusetts were Proficient or Advanced on the ELA exam.


In looking at proficiency rates by income status, low income 10th graders in Lynn have also made  substantial progress over 5 years.

  

The difference between Low Income and Non-Low Income students on the 2013 10th grade ELA exam was 8 points, down from a 13-point difference in 2009. Statewide, 82% of Low Income and 95% of Non-Low Income students were proficient or Advanced in ELA.

The students with disabilities or special education population has seen an increase in ELA proficiency rates of 36 points since 2009 whole the English Language Learner/Former English Language Learner subgroup has seen a 19-point increase.

 

Overall, 57% of ELL/Former ELL and 66% of Students with Disabilities in the state were Proficient or Advanced on the 10th grade ELA exam.

All data taken from: www.doe.mass.edu