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Superintendent: Marshwood students outperform state averages; AP pass rate cited at 81.4%
Summary
At a regular RSU 35/MSAD 35 school board meeting, the superintendent reported Marshwood middle- and high-school students scored substantially above Maine state averages in science, ELA and math and noted an 81.4% AP pass rate and a 93% graduation rate (2022–23 cohort).
At the RSU 35/MSAD 35 school board meeting, the superintendent reported that Marshwood students outperformed state averages on spring assessments and posted strong Advanced Placement results.
The superintendent said Marshwood Middle School eighth graders scored 62.6% at or above state expectations in science compared with the state average of 47.2%; 11th-graders at the high school scored 55.4% versus a state average of 36.1%. Presenting both single-year and three-year averages, the superintendent emphasized the three-year view to smooth cohort variation and noted the district is generally 15–20 percentage points above state averages in tested subjects.
The presentation included AP exam data from last spring: 140 students took 253 AP exams, and 81.4% of those tests received scores of 3, 4, or 5, which the superintendent said is roughly 20 percentage points higher than the national pass rate. The superintendent also highlighted a 93% graduation rate from the 2022–23 cohort and said district indicators show continued improvement over the last three years.
The superintendent and board members framed the scores as one measure among many, noting the district values relationships and character-building in addition to test performance. The superintendent cautioned that third-party rankings that rely on older data — for example, U.S. News & World Report, which used 2022–23 data — do not capture more recent gains.
Looking ahead, the superintendent said staff will continue reviewing underlying subgroups and grade-level patterns (for example, a relative dip in one ELA grade) to target supports where needed. The district will provide the board with further breakdowns and planned follow-up during upcoming work sessions.
