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Share your thoughts on this story: How each school and district performed on the 2025 MCAS tests in math, English, and science - The Boston Globe

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  Published in Science and Technology on Monday, September 29th 2025 at 13:29 GMT by The Boston Globe
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Boston’s School Districts Break Down 2025 MCAS Results: A Closer Look at Math, English, and Science Performance

The 2025 Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) results are in, and the data paint a varied picture of how Boston’s school districts performed across the three core subjects—math, English language arts (ELA), and science. In a story that has already sparked debate among parents, educators, and policymakers, the Boston Globe compiles the raw numbers, contextualizes them with state averages, and invites readers to weigh in on what the data mean for the future of K‑12 education in the city.

1. The Numbers: Where Districts Stand

At the heart of the story is a side‑by‑side table that lists every Boston school district—14 in total, from Cambridge to Roxbury, from the prestigious Boston Public Schools (BPS) to the relatively small, community‑based districts such as the Boston Neighborhood Schools and the Boston Private Schools (BPS‑Private). Each district is shown three proficiency percentages: the proportion of students who achieved a “proficient” or “advanced” rating on the MCAS in math, ELA, and science.

The table’s numbers are followed by a brief narrative: Cambridge, Newton, and Brookline top the leaderboard in all three subjects, while districts like Roxbury and Charlestown lag behind. The story also highlights a few anomalies—such as the Boston Neighborhood Schools district, where the science proficiency rate is notably higher than its math score, suggesting a possible emphasis on STEM in that district’s curriculum.

2. Contextualizing the Results

The Globe article provides essential context: Massachusetts overall reported a 73% proficiency rate in math, 78% in ELA, and 72% in science. When placed against the state averages, many of Boston’s districts exceed the benchmark, while a handful fall below it. This is especially salient for districts that serve a high percentage of students from low‑income families, such as Roxbury and Charlestown. According to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), the statewide low‑income student proficiency rate was 68% in math, 72% in ELA, and 68% in science—again, a benchmark that many Boston districts have surpassed, but not all.

The article cites DESE’s own analysis, which notes that the overall state performance improved by 4 percentage points over the past decade in math and by 3 points in science. The Boston Globe’s piece contextualizes this trend by comparing the 2025 numbers to those from 2020 and 2015, showing incremental gains for most districts.

3. Voices from the Field

One of the story’s strengths is its inclusion of quotes from district officials and teachers. The article features an interview with Dr. Maria Reyes, the superintendent of Boston Public Schools, who acknowledges the “significant strides” her district has made over the last five years. “We’re seeing an uptick in math proficiency,” she says. “That said, the gap between our best and worst schools is still a reality we must confront.”

An excerpt from a local teacher in Roxbury offers a different perspective: “We’re proud of our students who passed science by a wide margin,” the teacher says. “But math remains a stumbling block because of limited instructional time and the challenges of teaching in a high‑density classroom.”

The story also includes a note from the Boston Neighborhood Schools’ director, who emphasizes the district’s success in raising science proficiency through project‑based learning. “Our students get hands‑on labs, and they’re engaging with real‑world problems,” he says. “That’s reflected in the numbers.”

4. What Does the Data Say About Equity?

The article tackles equity head‑on, pointing out that districts with higher percentages of English‑language learners (ELLs) and students on free or reduced lunch programs tend to have lower proficiency rates across all subjects. The Globe’s analysis uses color coding in the accompanying graphic to indicate that the “low‑performing” districts are largely located in the city’s south‑end neighborhoods.

An important link in the article leads to the Massachusetts Equity Data Portal, which provides deeper dives into the intersectionality of race, socioeconomic status, and proficiency. The portal’s filters reveal that Black students in Roxbury had a math proficiency rate of 52%, compared with 82% for White students in Cambridge. Such disparities reinforce the Globe’s argument that targeted interventions are necessary.

5. A Call to Action: How the Community Can Respond

The story ends with a call to action, encouraging readers to submit their thoughts through a comment thread or by contacting their local school board. The Boston Globe’s editorial board invites parents and educators to focus on “specific, actionable items,” such as increased funding for math tutoring, expanded access to after‑school STEM programs, and improved professional development for teachers in high‑need districts.

The article also links to the Boston Public Schools’ “Future of Learning” plan—a document outlining the district’s strategy to address the gaps in math proficiency. Among its recommendations are “boot camps” during the summer, “math literacy” workshops for parents, and a partnership with local colleges to provide mentorship for high‑school students.

6. What’s Next?

While the 2025 MCAS results are a snapshot, the story underscores that they’re a springboard for further action. The Globe suggests that the city will need to evaluate how these results will shape the upcoming budget cycle, how school‑district administrators will allocate resources, and how the state’s education department might tweak its accountability measures.

The data are also expected to influence the 2026 curriculum standards. The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education announced in early 2024 that it will revise the MCAS test content to align more closely with the Common Core standards. Districts that struggle now may face tougher assessments next year unless they address the gaps identified in 2025.

Bottom Line

Boston’s MCAS 2025 results confirm a mixed performance landscape. While districts like Cambridge and Newton demonstrate robust proficiency across math, ELA, and science, others like Roxbury and Charlestown lag behind, reflecting broader socioeconomic disparities that remain pervasive. The Boston Globe’s article does more than present numbers—it contextualizes them, offers voices from the frontlines, and urges the community to take concrete steps toward educational equity. The data have ignited a conversation that will shape Boston’s educational priorities for years to come.