Education
Student Performance on Grade 3 English, by Student Group

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Percent of Students Passing Grade 3 Reading, 2021

What does this measure?

The percentage of students considered proficient on one of the state's 3rd grade English Language Arts tests, either the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) or the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC).

Why is this important?

Early literacy skills are critical to a successful school experience. Third grade is considered an important milestone in a student's career in terms of reading proficiency and is correlated to whether a student will graduate high school. Up through 3rd grade, students are learning to read; after 3rd grade, they must be able to read in order to learn. There are persistent gaps in academic achievement among students of different races, ethnicities and incomes. Notably, racial gaps persist even among students of similar socioeconomic backgrounds.

How is our region doing?

In 2021, 58% of 3rd graders in MetroWest were considered proficient in reading, up 5 percentage points from 2017. This was higher than the 2021 statewide rate of 51%, which also increased 4 points since 2017.

Students in MetroWest from economically disadvantaged backgrounds had a reading proficiency rate of 33% in 2021, compared to 68% of those who were not economically disadvantaged. The proficiency rate was highest among the region's Asian students (70%), followed by students who were white (64%), Black or African American (38%) and Hispanic or Latino (31%). Rates for all groups in MetroWest were slightly higher than those at the state level, but the region's racial and ethnic disparities were similar to Massachusetts as a whole. Since 2017, proficiency rates improved between 1 and 5 points for all groups in the region.

Among individual districts, the rate was highest for 3rd graders in Southborough (90%), Harvard (83%), Westwood (81%) and Dover (80%).

Proficiency rates were lowest in Framingham (35%), Marlborough (39%), Milford (41%) and Waltham (42%) - most of which have more diverse and more disadvantaged student bodies.

Why do these disparities exist?

Studies point to a variety of factors believed to contribute to disparities in test scores and other measures of student achievement. School systems in the United States are highly segregated, and students of color disproportionately attend schools with high proportions of low-income students who may not have benefited from early learning opportunities at the same rate as other students. Schools also have different levels of resources ranging from qualified/experienced teachers to advanced courses to facilities and technology, and schools with large Black and Latino populations often have lower levels. In addition, teachers across all school systems tend to be disproportionately white, and teaching practices and curriculum may not be culturally relevant to students of color.

Notes about the data

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education did not administer Spring 2020 MCAS for the 2019-2020 school year due to the cancellation of state assessments and school closures related to COVID-19. As assessments vary among states, it is not possible to include comparable data for the nation in this indicator. Data from earlier years is not comparable due to changes in the state test. Massachusetts students are considered "economically disadvantaged" if they receive assistance though the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Transitional Assistance for Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC), the Department of Children and Families' (DCF) foster care program, or MassHealth insurance.

Percent of Students Passing Grade 3 Reading, 2021
All StudentsAsianBlack or African AmericanEconomically DisadvantagedHispanic or LatinoNot Economically DisadvantagedWhite
Massachusetts51%67%32%31%28%65%60%
Region58%70%38%33%31%68%64%
Middlesex County59%70%40%32%31%70%66%
Norfolk County64%70%37%40%44%71%68%
Worcester County49%69%34%30%27%63%56%
Acton-Boxborough School District68%79%30%28%60%72%63%
Ashland School District63%77%26%22%72%71%
Bedford School District78%78%58%43%82%80%
Bellingham School District47%33%33%54%49%
Carlisle School District73%73%73%
Concord School District76%85%60%62%70%77%77%
Dedham School District62%57%45%44%68%69%
Dover School District80%91%83%80%
Foxborough Regional Charter52%84%36%31%65%62%
Framingham School District35%59%28%19%17%52%46%
Franklin School District67%81%43%45%72%69%
Harvard School District83%85%84%
Holliston School District73%90%53%57%75%72%
Hopkinton School District76%87%24%42%80%73%
Hudson School District47%21%18%61%52%
Lexington School District73%84%26%42%59%76%70%
Lincoln School District57%31%40%48%61%69%
Littleton School District69%79%50%71%70%
Marlborough School District39%55%30%23%50%59%
Maynard School District61%38%36%69%68%
Medfield School District77%44%80%80%
Medway School District74%35%79%73%
Milford School District41%36%24%25%61%50%
Millis School District58%47%27%61%63%
Nashoba School District68%52%45%70%69%
Natick School District70%69%40%52%74%71%
Needham School District70%69%47%43%32%73%72%
Sherborn School District76%74%78%
Southborough School District90%95%92%90%
Sudbury School District68%88%50%41%55%72%66%
Walpole School District72%70%40%44%42%77%77%
Waltham School District42%78%29%24%22%55%58%
Wayland School District76%90%36%53%81%78%75%
Wellesley School District77%78%53%69%79%76%
Westborough School District68%76%41%38%73%69%
Westford School District75%83%59%77%72%
Weston School District77%72%90%79%76%79%
Westwood School District81%84%54%60%83%81%

Source: Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education




Number of Students Passing Grade 3 Reading, 2021
All StudentsAsianBlack or African AmericanEconomically DisadvantagedHispanic or LatinoNot Economically DisadvantagedWhite
Massachusetts32,2813,2951,8998,0034,18324,24521,108
Region17,4552,5357363,0241,47914,38011,244
Middlesex County8,8421,4923631,3227407,5015,498
Norfolk County4,5137092086312283,8732,997
Worcester County4,1003341651,0715113,0062,749
Acton-Boxborough School District2551073918246110
Ashland School District1263310711678
Bedford School District1664071015597
Bellingham School District661455255
Carlisle School District484338
Concord School District168116814160123
Dedham School District103821128279
Dover School District60105945
Foxborough Regional Charter761627185824
Framingham School District23013176439166143
Franklin School District220172310197183
Harvard School District585542
Holliston School District1521898143116
Hopkinton School District2068255201108
Hudson School District951568080
Lexington School District36214461617344155
Lincoln School District6656106040
Littleton School District931568676
Marlborough School District1471159468778
Maynard School District58954949
Medfield School District1467139131
Medway School District109610397
Milford School District128442278691
Millis School District59845151
Nashoba School District1491210137122
Natick School District272332214250204
Needham School District296339166280229
Sherborn School District383532
Southborough School District1222011789
Sudbury School District180236136167129
Walpole School District202166198183164
Waltham School District1741484241131100
Wayland School District177284913168123
Wellesley School District259461011248168
Westborough School District19185181117386
Westford School District2549319235145
Weston School District91189118252
Westwood School District1762676169131

Source: Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education




Percent of Students Passing Grade 3 Reading, 2017
All StudentsAsianBlack or African AmericanEconomically DisadvantagedHispanic or LatinoNot Economically DisadvantagedWhite
Massachusetts47%65%29%29%29%58%54%
Region53%68%34%31%30%61%57%
Middlesex County54%67%35%32%30%61%57%
Norfolk County60%71%36%40%44%65%62%
Worcester County46%67%32%26%26%57%51%
Acton-Boxborough School District57%74%0%29%30%60%52%
Ashland School District52%71%30%12%55%55%
Bedford School District65%83%30%29%68%61%
Bellingham School District59%46%63%60%
Carlisle School District72%73%71%
Concord School District77%85%45%42%52%78%80%
Dedham School District48%17%34%38%53%55%
Dover School District70%100%71%64%
Foxborough Regional Charter47%92%29%16%56%47%
Framingham School District33%56%30%15%13%47%42%
Franklin School District63%63%45%70%67%64%
Harvard School District64%67%63%
Holliston School District63%69%48%38%65%66%
Hopkinton School District84%87%50%86%81%
Hudson School District42%22%25%52%43%
Lexington School District71%80%34%44%50%73%68%
Lincoln School District51%80%31%23%11%54%57%
Littleton School District38%47%27%40%38%
Marlborough School District44%69%44%25%33%57%54%
Maynard School District42%25%18%45%43%
Medfield School District66%36%29%68%69%
Medway School District63%53%64%62%
Milford School District41%23%31%53%46%
Millis School District45%47%46%
Nashoba School District63%30%58%66%61%
Natick School District59%76%23%36%26%62%59%
Needham School District61%76%38%25%42%64%63%
Sherborn School District58%61%58%
Southborough School District79%86%55%67%81%81%
Sudbury School District62%74%43%21%64%62%
Walpole School District71%81%44%42%75%73%
Waltham School District36%60%30%19%24%47%44%
Wayland School District62%70%15%58%62%63%62%
Wellesley School District65%83%41%36%47%67%64%
Westborough School District64%74%36%31%23%68%63%
Westford School District68%82%45%70%63%
Weston School District78%81%67%80%81%
Westwood School District80%96%58%69%82%79%

Source: Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education




Number of Students Passing Grade 3 Reading, 2017
All StudentsAsianBlack or African AmericanEconomically DisadvantagedHispanic or LatinoNot Economically DisadvantagedWhite
Massachusetts33,5493,1911,8087,8154,26725,73122,769
Region17,6042,3686622,8141,33314,76212,058
Middlesex County8,6601,3863351,3066917,3515,668
Norfolk County4,6516651755642054,0733,278
Worcester County4,2933171529444373,3383,112
Acton-Boxborough School District2211020116210107
Ashland School District10717929883
Bedford School District131303512687
Bellingham School District106169096
Carlisle School District525242
Concord School District197115511192160
Dedham School District106220108692
Dover School District59125637
Foxborough Regional Charter5312944928
Framingham School District25320134828205178
Franklin School District23112227209204
Harvard School District505041
Holliston School District14611126134125
Hopkinton School District204277197152
Hudson School District921547781
Lexington School District39016910168374175
Lincoln School District7585327255
Littleton School District51944740
Marlborough School District173118416213285
Maynard School District47424339
Medfield School District11544111103
Medway School District108810094
Milford School District12529259689
Millis School District333129
Nashoba School District14977142129
Natick School District272453205252211
Needham School District292296915283228
Sherborn School District444332
Southborough School District9518688964
Sudbury School District1842663181139
Walpole School District20721155192172
Waltham School District1551511334012283
Wayland School District1161927810973
Wellesley School District269437109259188
Westborough School District18069511316997
Westford School District217649208141
Weston School District10317810069
Westwood School District1772379170134

Source: Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education




INDICATORS REGIONAL TREND
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Children Living in Poverty Maintaining
Children Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families Increasing
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Disengaged Youth Decreasing
Reports of Domestic Violence Increasing
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Establishments Increasing
Households Without Vehicles Maintaining
Means of Transportation to Work Not Applicable
Households With Internet Access Increasing
Voter Participation Rate Increasing
Average Charitable Contribution Maintaining
People Without Health Insurance Decreasing
Drug Poisoning Mortality Rate Increasing
Crimes Against People Decreasing
Incarceration Rates, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Change in Total Population Increasing
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Foreign-Born Population Increasing
Language Diversity Increasing
Population by Age Not Applicable
Change in Population by Age/Gender Not Applicable
Seniors Living Alone Decreasing
People with Disabilities Maintaining
Change in Total Jobs by Sector Not Applicable
Business Ownership by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate Maintaining
Share of Workers who are Professionals, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Average Salary by Sector Not Applicable
High-Tech Jobs Decreasing
Female to Male Earnings Ratio Maintaining
Prekindergarten Participation Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 3 English, by Student Group Not Applicable
School Spending Per Student Maintaining
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math by Student Group Not Applicable
Chronically Absent Students Increasing
High School Cohort Graduation Rate by Student Group Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults Not Applicable
College Admission Rate, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty Maintaining
People Living in Poverty, by Education Level Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Households Receiving Temporary Assistance Maintaining
Participation in Food Assistance by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income Maintaining
Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Living Wage Not Applicable
80/20 Income Ratio Maintaining
Access to Financial Services, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homeownership Rates Maintaining
Homeownership Rates, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Homeownership Increasing
Cost of Homeownership, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Rent Not Applicable
Cost of Rent, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homelessness Increasing
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Children Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Incarceration Rates, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Business Ownership by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Share of Workers who are Professionals, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 3 English, by Student Group Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math by Student Group Not Applicable
High School Cohort Graduation Rate by Student Group Not Applicable
College Admission Rate, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Participation in Food Assistance by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Access to Financial Services, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homeownership Rates, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Homeownership, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Rent, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable


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