MCAS Results Show Math & English Improvements

BOSTON (AP) -- State education officials say fifth-graders made marked improvements on the math and English portions of the MCAS exam in the past year, while 10th-graders showed improvement on the English section.

Not all the news was positive when statewide results were released on Thursday.

There was a slight decrease in the performance of third-graders on the English portion of the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System exam.

The state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education said black and Latino students closed the achievement gap with white students in most grade levels.

Results were also mixed in science, with improvements in grades 3, 5 and 8, and slight declines in grades 4, 6 and 7.

Education Commissioner Mitchell Chester says while pleased with the results, he will work for greater improvement.

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