Lanesborough Elementary Top Level School in MCAS
 Secretary of Education Matt Malone points to Lanesborough's certificate during a recent visit. |
The school recently received its standardize testing scores and has ranked as a Level 1 — the highest designation — for the second year in a row.
"We are Level 1 for the second year in a row and that is not easy to accomplish," said Principal Ellen Boshe. "It is the support of the community that allows us to have the services we provide."
Based on the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System testing, the state sets target scores that measure both the grow of students throughout their educational career and the school's ability to narrow proficiency gaps. For Lanesborough, a score of 75 meets the state's target and Lanesborough Elementary scored 95 for all students and a 98 for students with high needs.
"We were certainly right at the top of the list," Boshe said.
The principal added that reaching the Level 1 designation two years in a row is significant. The state sets progressively higher goals to close the proficiency gap, making it more difficult for school's to repeat good performances.
"Every year it becomes harder and harder because you've made improvements and need to make more," Boshe said.
School Committee member James Moriarty said, "at some point, you can only improve so much."
The sixth-graders exceeded state averages in both subjects tested — math and English. A total of 84 percent of the students were proficient or higher in English compared to the state average of 68 percent. Only 13 percent of the sixth graders needed improvement and only 3 percent were failing.
In math, 78 percent of the students were proficient or higher compared to the state average of 60 percent. Only 16 percent of the students needed improvement and 6 percent was failing.
In the fifth grade, where science is tested, 68 percent of the students were proficient or higher in science compared to the state average of 53 percent.
The third-graders also showed impressive numbers with 74 percent of the students scoring proficient or higher in both reading and math. That is compared to state averages of 57 percent for reading and 68 percent for math.
The scores earned the school a certificate from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Tags: academics, MCAS, standardized testing,
