City Council and School Committee Members to Answer MCAS and PARCC Test Questions

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

GoLocalWorcester Lifestyle Team

On Friday, July 24, at 6 PM, members from the Worcester City Council and Worcester School Committee will square off and tackle challenging test questions from MCAS and PARCC in English, math and science at the Pop UP Gallery located at 20 Franklin Street. The event is titled "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grade Standardized Test?"

The public is encouraged to attend as this event is free and open to all.

There has been much debate and confusion regarding the proposed transition from the MCAS to the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) standardized test. According to state officials the PARCC test is designed to track a student’s readiness for college and career rather than focus on proficiency in a particular subject matter as is the focus of the MCAS.

Another significant difference between the exams is that the PARCC is administered on a computerm unlike the MCAS which is done on paper.

The contestants from the City Council will be Moe Bergman, Tony Economou, Konnie Lukes, and Kate Toomey. The contestants from the School Committee will be John Monfredo, Tracy Novick, Brian O’Connell, and Hilda Ramirez.

Mayor Joe Petty will keep score, and Hank Stolz from WCRN News-Talk Radio will host the event.

This event is being put on by the Worcester Regional Research Bureau.

Related Slideshow: 10 MA State Education Rankings

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4th Grade Test Scores

Math

Rank: #3 out of 50

State Average Score: 253

National Average Score: 241

Reading

Rank: #1 out of 50

State Average Score: 232

National Average Score: 221

Source: National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 2013 Mathematics and Reading Assessments.

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8th Grade Test Scores

Math

Rank: #1 out of 50

State Average Score: 301

National Average Score: 284

Reading

Rank: #1 out of 50

State Average Score: 277

National Average Score: 266

Source: National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 2013 Mathematics and Reading Assessments.

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High School Dropout Rate

State Dropout Rate: 2.5%

National Average: 3.3%

Source: U.S. Department of Education

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High School Graduation Rate

State Graduation Rate: 83%

National Average: 79%

Source: U.S. Department of Education

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SAT Scores

Rank: #25 out of 50

State Combined Score Average: 1553

National Average: 1498

Source: Commonwealth Foundation

Note: Massachusetts Ranks 6th in the Country with an 83% SAT participation rate

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High School AP Courses

Rank: #4 out of 50

State Percentage of Class Scoring 3 or Higher on AP Exam: 27.9%

National Average: 20.1%

Source: College Board

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Chance of Success

Rank: #1 out of 50

Grade: A-

National Average: C+

Source: Education Week

Note: Index that grades the nation and states on 13 indicators capturing the role that education plays as a person moves from childhood, through the K-12 system, and into college and the workforce.

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K-12 Achievement Index

Rank: #1 out of 50

Grade: B

National Average: C-

Source: Education Week

Note: Index that evaluates educational performance on 18 individual indicators that measure current achievement, improvements over time, and poverty-based disparities.

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Per Pupil Expenditure

Rank: #8 out of 50

Amount Spent: $15,881

National Average: $10,938

Source: NEA Research, Estimates Database (2013)

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Average Daily Attendance

Rank: #17 out of 50

State Average: 94.9%

National Average: 96.7%

Source: NEA Research, Estimates Database (2013)

Note: Figure reflects the aggregate attendance of a school during a reporting period divided by the number of days school is in session during this period.