Oakdale Elementary "WOWS" Town with MCAS Results !

 Around here, we`re pretty fond of numbers – always have been and always will be. Armed with a good set of “statistics”, you can strengthen your opinion and speak with a more knowledgeable point of view. The Red Sox are the best team in baseball at the moment, all numbers. With a host of new players, can the Patriots make it to the playoffs and beyond – numbers. At home balancing the budget, food shopping, paying the bills, numbers and more numbers!

Well, nowhere is the importance of numbers and statistics more prevalent, than in September in our schools. You see, each September (since 1998) the MCAS (Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System) test results for students in grades 3-8 and grade 10 are “released.” By release, we mean that the Mass. Dept. of Elementary and Secondary Education put forward a comprehensive 77-page report, complete with charts, graphs, and scores – along with comparisons and breakdowns of cities and towns, individual schools, grade levels, race and everything else you can imagine.

A total of 548,788 Massachusetts Public School students participated in this test last May. All children tested, receive scores in English Language Arts and Mathematics, and students in grades 5, 8, and 10 are also tested in Science and Technology. In the State, there are approximately 70,000 students in each grade. Here in Dedham, there are about 200 students in each grade. It is the goal of superintendents, principals, teachers, and students to “pass” this test with a score of “proficient or better.” The grades are a good way for administrators to measure the effectiveness of the teachers and the achievements of schools and students.

MCAS tests are made up of short-answer questions, multiple choice, open-response answers and writing composition questions. Critics of this standard-based test abound. Off the record, many administrators and teachers complain that too much emphasis is put on these yearly tests and that curriculum has been restricted to material covered by the MCAS. Demography, or where you live, has also been a factor in test results. The premise however, is that all students will receive the same education, regardless of where they go to school.

Here in Dedham – 92% at the High School were proficient in English, 85% in Math, and 77% in Science. This was better than the State average. At the Middle School, (grade 8 for example) 85% passed in English, 66% in Math, and 41% in Science. Again, these results were above the State scores.

District wide in our Elementary Schools, the students beat out the averages in grades 3, 4, and 5 – but the breakdown of individual schools was what was astonishing. Let`s take the students from last year`s graduating 5th grade classes. State-wide, there are 879 fifth-grade classes.

Avery School

              English – rated # 491 of 879

              Math – rated # 310 of 879

              Science – rated # 383 of 879

     Greenlodge School

               English – rated # 235 of 879                                                                                                                                                            

               Science – rated # 287 of 879

    Riverdale School

                English – rated # 474 of 879

                Math – rated # 363 of 879

                Science – rated # 313 of 879

   Oakdale School

                 English – rated # 10 of 879

                 Math – rated # 38 of 879

                 Science – rated # 1 of 879

That`s right – “First Place” in the State of Massachusetts in Science! For years, folks in this town have been talking about Principal Holli Armstrong and her 5th grade “dream team” of teachers. Liz Tavalone teaches Math, Mary Ann Beakes teaches English and Ruth Dorsey (who retired in June) teaches Science. The key to their success has been “teaching as a team.” These three ladies have come to school early and stayed late. Mrs. Dorsey explained that they learned “to share their students and their progress.” Homework clubs were set up after school and the teachers encouraged any student to come in early with questions or for extra help. When Oakdale parents saw how hard these teachers were working, they were quick to show their respect and support. Mrs. Dorsey believes that this is “a vital component for academic success.”

Also, the group credits Ms. Armstrong, “her work ethic, her open-door policy, and her willingness to listen to her teachers.” Mrs. Dorsey told us “that an important quality in an administrator is their ability to make decisions that will increase student achievement.”

When the MCAS results went public, Principal Armstrong invited Mrs. Dorsey to swing by the school at lunch and share in their celebration. In passing, we asked Ruth Dorsey the question that`s been on our mind for weeks. “Do you miss it?” She paused for a moment and said, “I`d come back in a heartbeat… I have so much energy and passion for teaching.” “Why don`t you come back then?” we questioned. Her reply – “because no one has asked…” Now, after leading her students to number one in the state – maybe we should ask!! Congratulations to all of the students (and teachers) in town on a fine job.