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Bourne schools report mixed MCAS gains; administrators say work remains
Summary
District leaders presented MCAS and accountability data Oct. 2, reporting gains in several assessments — notably a jump to 67% of 10th graders meeting or exceeding ELA — while flagging declines in some current-year scores and outlining next steps for support and communication to families.
Bourne school leaders on Oct. 2 presented state accountability and MCAS results showing pockets of progress alongside areas that require attention.
Dr. Maguire reported that 67% of 10th graders met or exceeded expectations on the English language arts MCAS, an 11 percentage-point increase from last year, and that the ELA student growth percentile rose to 61. Math results improved as well: 49% of students met or exceeded expectations, a 17-point increase, with a growth percentile of 49. Dr. Maguire also noted that the 50% biology score cited during the presentation referred to the cohort now in 11th grade; current-year biology results for the tested course fell to 30% meeting or exceeding, and “we have work to do,” she said, adding that the department has already put measures in place to address declines.
At Bourne Middle School, presenters Christine Borning and Jessee Clements said 29% of students met or exceeded expectations in ELA, with many students close to the threshold: 42% of those partially meeting expectations were within 10 percentage points of meeting them and 60% were within 15. BMS reported an average ELA student growth percentile of 48 and a math growth percentile of 49; 24% met or exceeded in math. At the elementary level, Noelle Colbert and Lisa Dix reported 30% of BIS students met or exceeded ELA (51% partially meeting) and a 50-point ELA growth percentile; elementary math rose to 35% meeting or exceeding, a 5-point improvement, and 5th-grade science increased to 45% meeting or exceeding.
Superintendent Dr. Kerri Anne Quinlan‑Zhou described the district as categorized by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) as not requiring assistance or intervention because it is making substantial progress toward targets. She and Assistant Superintendent Dr. Barbara Starkie said the district will continue work on curriculum and supports; Dr. Starkie noted that families will receive mailed MCAS results on Oct. 10 and that the district intends to provide clearer explanatory materials to help parents interpret scores.
Administrators emphasized next steps including targeted interventions, communication with families, and continuing work through curriculum teams and the district’s strategic planning process. The committee heard the presentations during its regular meeting and then moved into executive session on unrelated bargaining matters after the formal votes on MASC resolutions.
Speakers quoted or paraphrased in this article appear in the meeting record and include Dr. Maguire, Dr. Kerri Anne Quinlan‑Zhou, Dr. Barbara Starkie, Christine Borning, Jessee Clements, Noelle Colbert, and Lisa Dix.
