FITCHBURG — On Thursday, the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education released the 2022 MCAS results for public school districts and schools across the commonwealth.
The educators in Fitchburg Public Schools helped students grow and achieve in 2022 — the most challenging year in the history of public education. In 2018, five schools in Fitchburg were ranked in the bottom 10% of schools in the state.
After the 2022 MCAS results, only two of Fitchburg’s schools remain in the bottom 10%. As a result of Fitchburg teachers helping students demonstrate improved growth in English Language Arts and Math in grades 3-8 and ELA growth in all subgroups at grade 10, Memorial Middle School and Fitchburg High School both no longer require supplemental oversight and support from DESE.
Collaborating with the school department’s central office and partners (Focused Schools and Future Management Systems), the teams at these two schools helped those students make significant progress upon their return to full in-person learning.
Here are some specific Fitchburg Public Schools MCAS accomplishments:
• The average writing scores for the elementary schools were one point below the state average in Grade 3, and at the state average in Grade 4. Fitchburg did not see a decline in early literacy skills, specifically in writing, like other school districts in the state.
• There was positive student growth in ELA and Mathematics district wide. At the high school level in Mathematics, the English Language Learners and former English Language Learners increased from 33.7% in 2019 to 64.2% in 2022.
“We worked together during the most difficult time in the history of public education with our entire team and partners,” FPS Superintendent Robert Jokela said. “All of our staff adapted and continued to teach all our students, and it is reflected in the improved results.”
FPS prioritized access to high-quality instruction for all students, staff development in best practices; those efforts helped FPS achieve positive outcomes. Going forward, FPS intends to use these 2022 MCAS results and other data to help determine 2023 goals and learning targets.
FPS is expanding the teacher mentoring program, co-teaching, and creating a teacher leadership academy to further build staff skills. FPS is confident that new systems, school-based leadership and parental support will help it mutually achieve this goal.
“Our 2022 results bring us in line with many of our urban peers,” Jokela said. “When I started as superintendent, my goal was to make Fitchburg Public Schools the best urban district in the state. We remain committed to that goal. I am thankful to the Fitchburg team’s commitment to our students all growing and achieving. With continued family and community support, we will serve and support all our students with excellence in order to help them reach their full potential.”
