Superintendent of Lynn Schools Dr. Catherine Latham talks Wednesday with the Daily Item editors about how student test scores have improved. Item photo by Owen O’Rourke.
By Gayla Cawley
LYNN — Standardized test scores are up in Lynn and school officials are thrilled.
“It’s quite exciting to see,” said Superintendent Dr. Catherine C. Latham.
Lynn Public Schools saw a bump in its students’ Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) and Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) scores. The increase also closes the gap between the city’s Composite Performance Index (CPI) test scores and the state average.
In 2016, Lynn had an English Language Arts (ELA) CPI of 81, up 2.1 points from its 2015 PARCC results. The CPI is 6.2 points lower than the state, narrowing the gap from the 7.9 point difference last year.
In math, Lynn had a CPI of 74.6 for its PARCC scores, 3.2 points higher than its results last year. Its 2016 results are 6.9 points lower than the state, but an improvement over the 9.3 point gap last year.
In science, which is only offered with MCAS, Lynn had a CPI of 72.3, a 2.4 improvement over last year. The city scored 6.5 points lower than the state, improving over its 9.5 gap in 2015. The city’s scores are up in the subject, despite a decline in state results from last year.
Lynn is part of the Commissioner’s District, made up of 10 of the state’s largest urban school districts. Compared to its counterparts, the city scored highest in ELA and science, and second-highest in math, two tenths of a point out of the top spot.
Latham said the higher scores could partly be attributed to the curriculum material the schools are now using. She cited the Reach for Reading program, through National Geographic, that provides students with high interest books. She’s been told by teachers that kids can’t wait to get the books.
The superintendent said Lynn, like other urban school districts, faces the challenge of keeping its scores up with a large population of English language learner (ELL) students. This year, Lynn has 218 students from another country. When those students come to the district, Latham said, the second year they’re there, they have to take MCAS or PARCC and reach the proficient level. To prep them, Latham said there is a lot of professional development for ELL students.
“All students need to take the PARCC or the MCAS and all students are expected to become proficient, and that includes special education students, ELL, so they’re all in the same boat,” Latham said. “We have to bring everybody up at the same time, and it’s a big challenge.”
Another factor in driving up test scores is a new focus on the social and emotional health of students, according to school officials. In the school department alone, Latham said there are 26 social workers. Five years ago, she said, she didn’t know if there were any. The superintendent said she’s seen students sent to school sick and traumatized.
Deputy Superintendent Jaye E. Warry said that without bolstering the social-emotional well-being of kids, it’s unlikely they’ll be able to bolster their achievement. She said children are coming from very traumatized backgrounds. The schools work with the Lynn Police Department and Project COPE, an affiliate of Bridgewell, Latham added, as students are coming from homes with opioid addiction.
Warry said the schools are working with the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and outside agencies closer than ever. Deputy Superintendent Patrick Tutwiler said there’s been a lot of professional development in the area, as educators are understanding what trauma does to the brain.
Overall, Latham said the test results show steady gains and she believes the district is doing well.
“I’d say we’re making good progress and the results are very encouraging and show that the resources that we have put towards the new curriculum and new professional development for our teachers is paying off,” she said.
Gayla Cawley can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @GaylaCawley.
