SALEM, MA — Salem Public Schools' MCAS results were largely in line with state trends in 2022 as English scores declined and math scores rose marginally as districts look for ways to make up for learning time lost during two-plus years of COVID-19 shutdowns and other interferences.

"The effects of the pandemic continue to be evident in our performance and the outcomes of students across the state and country," Salem Superintendent Steve Zrike said. "The continued disruption caused by student absences coupled with significant differences in participation rates between the 2021 and 2022 MCAS assessments, resulted in uneven performance across content and grades."

In Grades 3 through 8, Salem third- through eighth-graders saw the percentage of students "meeting or exceeding expectations" drop from 34 percent in 2021 — when a shorter version of the test was administered because of the pandemic — to 26 percent. In math, proficiency increased from 16 percent in 2021 to 20 percent in 2022.

At the high school level, Salem dipped from 48 percent meeting or exceeding expectations in English to 37 percent, while math stayed fairly even going from 29 percent in 2021 to 26 percent in spring 2022.

Salem was at 29 percent meeting or exceeding expectations in science for students in grades five and eight, and 24 percent in 10th grade where a "next generation" MCAS science test was administered for the first time.

The state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education released the 2022 results last Thursday showing English Language Arts declined 5 percent statewide among students in Grades 3 through 8, and 6 percent in Grade 10, compared to 2021 when a "half test" was administered in younger grades because of the pandemic.

Scores in grades 3 through 5 showed a sharper decline, DESE said, "indicating challenges in early literacy."

(Also on Patch: MCAS Scores Dip Shows COVID-19 Learning Recovery May Take 'Years')

Zrike noted that MCAS scores "are only one indicator of student and school success."

"While we feel a tremendous sense of urgency to get our students on track, it is predicted that it will take three to five years for students to fully recover from the impact of so much lost quality learning time over the last three school years," Zrike said. "We enter this school year with optimism that there will be fewer COVID interruptions and confidence that our efforts to establish consistent and predictable expectations will ensure a culture of belonging and high achievement across our schools."

He said the district goals are to develop Salem students into becoming "independent learners who can achieve at grade level or higher" and this year has introduced strong curriculum materials, maintained low student-to-teacher ratios, and worked to "consistently turn student data into action" with additional interventions or more accelerated learning opportunities depending on needs.

Zrike said Salem has also increased its number of tutors so it can provide targeted support and combat "unfinished learning" with "high-dosage tutoring."

There has also been a push to cut down on chronic absences that have been an issue in the district dating back before the pandemic.

"We need students in school every day, and on time, for learning, unless they are sick," Zrike said. "We know that student attendance and engagement are higher when they feel a sense of connection and belonging to their classroom and school.

"For this reason, we are doubling down in our efforts to explicitly teach social and emotional competencies and create inclusive spaces for all children."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)

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