With MCAS on the ballot this fall, groups are lining up for and against a state standardized test as a requirement for graduation. But that competency test is only one measure of educational achievement, especially in Needham. In the district’s schools Performance Report delivered to all homes in town this month, the Portrait of a Needham Graduate and its five areas of competency take center stage. And that’s how Superintendent Dan Gutekanst thinks it should be.
“I would really like for the community and for the town and for our kids to be focused on the competencies and how we are measuring those competencies with the Portrait of a Needham Graduate,” he said. “To me that’s what should be driving our community. And we should be using these other assessments to help complement our understanding of how our students are doing.”
The Portrait, developed six years ago, is unique to Needham and is incorporated into student learning beginning in kindergarten. It is designed to prepare students to be creative thinkers and problem solvers; communicators and collaborators; socially and culturally responsive; and responsible, resilient and empowered learners.
“The Portrait of a Needham Graduate is a routine, daily, constant experience,” said Gutekanst. “MCAS is an assessment that happens once a year. It does provide useful and good information, but not all the information we need to help our students grow.”
Required by the state for more than two decades, MCAS has become the familiar measure of achievement, and Gutekanst recognizes that families want to know how Needham students score and how they do relative to other districts. The Performance Report includes the rankings of Needham students with those in 20 similar communities.
Needham’s combined MCAS scores have been fairly steady over the past five years, with improvements in math but declines in science and English language arts. This year it ranks No. 7 out of the 20 communities in math, but 18th in science and 15th in ELA. Overall it comes in 12th among comparative communities on MCAS scores, and ranks 10th in those qualifying for advanced placement courses.
“Our standing has remained consistent,” said Gutekanst. “In several metrics we’re in the middle of the pack, and those who are at the high end — Weston, Dover, Sherborn for example — have been at the high end since we started doing this report. So in some ways we’ve all remained in place.”
Gutekanst noted the data doesn’t reflect the opportunities students have for co-curricular experiences, citing a strong program in music, performing and fine arts, as well as having the largest athletic program in the state.
“What I’m pleased about is that when students get into 11th and 12th grade more and more students, and students of color, are accessing advanced courses,” said Gutekanst. “We think that’s powerful, we think that’s consistent with our Portrait, and it will really help boost them as they move on from Needham High School.”
The November election ballot contains an initiative petition that would eliminate the use of statewide standardized tests as a high school graduation requirement in Massachusetts. Gutekanst said he will vote on the question in November, but won’t say how he will vote. He referred to a blog post he wrote on the subject last spring, titled MCAS: An imperfect but important tool.
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