The MCAS was designed to measure how well students, schools, and districts are performing on the state's learning standards contained in the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks. These graphs show the growth for the same group of students who were in our school for the entire 1999-2000 school year. At the elementary or middle school level, a gain of 20 to 25 points in reading or mathematics is considered strong improvement. At the high school level, a gain of 10 to 15 points is considered strong improvement. We believe that assessment drives instruction.
Formative assessment takes place daily.
We assess our students to improve our instructional program and to improve overall student achievement. Teachers analyze students' work to determine their strengths as well as the areas in which they need additional support. Teachers also use quizzes, key questions and checklists as assessment tools. These tests not only provide us with information about individual students, but also tell us how Endicott students are performing in relation to students across the city and the state. Formative assessment is ongoing.