Students improve MCAS scores from year ago but lag behind state

Students across grades improved some of their scores on the 2026 Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System, or MCAS. 

Despite the trend, though, scores throughout the town fell below the statewide averages.

Science, technology and engineering and civics were the two subjects where scores improved across all levels. Math and English language arts scores also showed mixed levels of progress, but a general upward trend.

On the science test, the amount of fifth graders, eighth graders and tenth graders that met or exceeded expectations went up since last year – seven, six and five percentage points, respectively.

For civics, which started in 2025 and is offered only to eighth graders, the percentage of students who met or exceeded expectations is up eight percentage points from last year.

Some grade classes made strides in English language arts and math: Ten percent more fifth graders and five percent more 10th graders achieved or went above expectations on the English exam, and 11 percent more 10th graders did so on the math exam. 

Others, however, did not: Nine percent fewer fourth graders met or exceeded expectations than the previous year.

But by and large, these scores still fall below the statewide mark. 

Despite improvements on the science test, the amount of students who met or went above expectations was still up to 15 percentage points lower than the Massachusetts average. Only 28 percent of eighth graders achieved or exceeded expectations on the science test. Only 25 percent of 10th graders did so.

Across almost all grades and subjects, the number of Wareham students in grades 3 through 8 and 10 meeting or exceeding expectations on the MCAS fell below the statewide average. Fifth grade science scores were the only exception, where 44 percent of students met or exceeded expectations.

Along with science, eighth graders struggled. On the math exam, 15 percent of eighth graders finished at or above expectations. On the English exam, it was 26 percent. For civics, the total was 23 percent.

Many scores are down since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. In Wareham, fewer students are meeting the mark on the English exam than they were in 2019.

This problem is not Wareham-specific. Scores across the state, especially on the English exam, have plummeted since 2019 and they have not gone up in the following years. 

This year was no exception. Across the state, students performed worse on the English exam than they did in 2025. In English, math, civics and science, under half of students statewide met or exceeded expectations.

There’s still a long way to go in many districts before those scores return to pre-pandemic levels.

“We’re still not where we want to be,” said Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Pedro Martinez in a webinar on Monday, Sept. 21.

Martinez said that the state government has been working to improve the state’s educational system, citing a bill signed by Gov. Maura Healey aimed at boosting youth literacy.

There has been growth on the other three subjects in Wareham, though: More students are performing well on the math, science and civics test than in 2019.

Superintendent Amy Hartley-Matteson was not available for comment at press time. She will be presenting on the MCAS scores at a future School Committee meeting.

While not a graduation requirement anymore, MCAS allows educators and administrators to assess their students’ math, science and English skills over the years.