Recent news about Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) results show a decline across the state post-COVID in English/language arts and flat rates in mathematics. In Hopkinton, however, most students maintained or improved over the prior year and continue to outperform statewide scores in achievement and growth, according to Jeffrey LaBroad, assistant superintendent of curriculum, instruction, assessment and professional development.

LaBroad outlined results to the School Committee on Thursday, noting most grade levels returned to pre-COVID levels and rank high in each subject when compared with other districts in Massachusetts.

He said the intent is not to boast and say, “ ‘Hey, look how great we are’ … because it is not a competition … but to highlight really good stuff is happening.”

LaBroad added Hopkinton uses several other assessments to monitor student progress.

The elementary level and high school students tested are in the “meeting or exceeding targets” category, while the middle school is “making substantial progress toward targets.”

The percentage of students meeting or exceeding expectations is as follows:

For English/language arts (ELA): Grade 3, 73%; Grade 4, 70%; Grade 5, 79%; Grade 6, 77%; Grade 7, 64%; Grade 8, 76% and Grade 10, 90%.

In math, it is Grade 3, 76%; Grade 4, 80%; Grade 5, 81%; Grade 6, 80%; Grade 7, 78%; Grade 8, 83% and Grade 10, 86%.

LaBroad said 28 students in Grade 10 had perfect scores in math.

Grade 5, 8 and 10 also tested in STE (science, technology and engineering) and the results exceeding or meeting expectations were 84%, 72% and 87%, respectively.

The assistant superintendent also broke down where Hopkinton landed in state rankings. Examples in math included first in Grade 5 and second in Grade 8.

A graph shown as part of a presentation to the School Committee charts MCAS performance in Grade 10 English/language arts from 2021-24.

His presentation also looked at where improvement is needed, described as “opportunity for growth” by LaBroad.

For example, in ELA Grade 4, students meeting expectations went from 63% to 58%, and partially meeting was at 25%.

In Grade 7 ELA, there was a drop in scores. Only 14% exceeded expectations, down from 30% the prior year. However, 50% met expectations, up from 45%, while partially meeting jumped from 19% last year to 28% this year.

While 6% of students last year did not meet expectations, this year, that went to 8%.

School Committee members pointed out that in ELA, about one-third of students in Grade 7 are in the partially met or did not meet categories.

Member Chris Masters asked if there is an identifiable cause. LaBroad replied that the results are “one snapshot in time,” and there are a lot of factors that can impact scores.

The assistant superintendent also showed data from subgroups — students who are English learners or former English learners, have disabilities or have low income.

“There is a lot of growth and movement forward in several grades,” LaBroad said.

“We’ve got work to do. Our work is never done,” LaBroad added, regarding the overall results. He pointed to efforts underway in literacy, math and science to strengthen curriculum and said there are “multi-tiered systems of support” in place to help students.