Westborough's MCAS Results: "The Year of Mathematics For Us"

For the Westborough public schools, 2013 was "'the Year of Mathematics' for us" on the MCAS, Assistant School Superintendent Dr. Daniel Mayer told the school committee Wednesday night.

The latest math scores represent "two years in a row" that they have "really taken off for us," Mayer said.

In 2013, 51 percent of Westborough students in grades three to 10 scored advanced on the math test, compared to 41 percent in 2011, he said.

In grade 10, 77 percent of Westborough students scored advanced, compared to 58 percent statewide, Mayer said.

Mayer attributed Westborough's math results to: reinstating the elementary math/science coordinator position; aligning the math curriculum to the Common Core; and allocating more math instructional time in grades four through six.

Westborough's English Language Arts, and science, scores also were strong, Mayer said.

Across the district. 85 percent of Westborough students scored proficient or higher in English Language Arts, compared to 69 percent statewide, he said.

In grade 10, 74 percent of Westborough students scored advanced, compared to 45 percent statewide, Mayer said.

And in science, which was taken in grades five, eight and at the high school, the percentages of students scoring proficient or higher were:

• Grade Five: 76 percent (51 percent statewide)
• Grade Eight: 69 percent (39 percent statewide)
• Westborough High: 95 percent (71 percent statewide)