Schools
4 Worcester Schools Earn State Recognition In Annual Ratings
New state data shows 21 Worcester schools improved their accountability scores while four earned special recognition.
WORCESTER, MA — Four Worcester elementary schools earned state recognition in newly released accountability ratings for the 2025-26 school year.
Columbus Park, McGrath, Midland and Worcester Arts Magnet were named Schools of Recognition for notable progress toward annual targets, including improved achievement and strong growth in English language arts and mathematics, according to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Worcester Public Schools maintained its districtwide classification of “not requiring assistance or intervention” after making moderate progress toward its targets.
Of the 44 Worcester schools that received accountability classifications, 31 were deemed not to require assistance or intervention while 13 were classified as requiring assistance or intervention. Four schools met or exceeded their targets, 19 made significant progress, 18 made moderate progress and three made limited or no progress.
Twenty-one schools improved their overall accountability scores from last year. Flagg Street, Lake View, Wawecus Road, Midland Street, Worcester Arts Magnet, Columbus Park and McGrath elementary schools each increased their scores by at least 5 percentage points.
Columbus Park met 98 percent of its annual progress targets, the highest rate in the district. Worcester Arts Magnet met 90 percent while Flagg Street and McGrath each met 89 percent. Worcester Dual Language Magnet met 80 percent and Elm Park met 78 percent.
Worcester MCAS Scores Decline In High School
Districtwide MCAS results were largely flat or lower compared with 2025.
The share of students meeting or exceeding expectations in grades 3 through 8 fell from 26 percent to 25 percent in English language arts and remained at 24 percent in math. Among 10th-graders, the rate fell from 33 percent to 26 percent in English language arts and from 24 percent to 20 percent in math.
“Accountability data gives us the urgency to look under the hood,” Superintendent Brian E. Allen said. “State testing gives us one piece of the picture. We must stay the course with our core academic strategies, focusing on areas that are working well, and pinpointing learning gaps to target support where it’s most needed.”
Worcester’s four-year graduation rate remained at about 86 percent, compared with a statewide average of 89 percent. The dropout rate remained at 2 percent while the advanced coursework rate increased from about 52 percent in 2025 to 54 percent in 2026.
English learners in grades 1 through 8 exceeded targets for attaining English proficiency, gaining 7 points from the previous year. High school students declined by 3 points in that category.
Chronic absenteeism remained at about 19 percent for students in kindergarten through eighth grade and 34 percent for high school students.
The district’s full accountability results are available on the DESE website.
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