Massachusetts 2025 MCAS Shows Limited Recovery

Massachusetts released the 2025 MCAS results Monday: 10th-grade ELA fell 6% and math fell 3% from 2024 and remain below 2019 levels, while grades 3–8 posted a modest 3-point ELA increase and no change in math. Only 13 districts have returned to pre-pandemic performance in both English and math, another 50 recovered in one subject, and just 55% of schools met or exceeded accountability targets (down from 60%). State education leaders, including Secretary Patrick Tutwiler and DESE Commissioner Pedro Martinez, said persistent achievement gaps remain for students of color, students with disabilities, and English learners and suggested last year’s ballot question removing MCAS as a high-school graduation requirement may have contributed to the 10th-grade decline. American Indian/Native Alaskan 10th graders were the only subgroup to post a math gain (+6%), though their scores are still well below 2019 levels. DESE noted testing continues in grades 3–8 and 10 (with science in grades 5, 8 and 10), added a new eighth-grade civics exam, and said MCAS will remain a central accountability tool as the state pursues a multi-year recovery from pandemic learning loss.