Andover 10th Grade MCAS Results Decline Significantly in English and Science

Andover 10th Grade MCAS Results Decline

ANDOVER, MA — This year’s MCAS results show a significant drop in the performance of Andover 10th graders in English language arts and science, as newly released data from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education indicates.

• English Language Arts: 62% of Andover 10th graders met or exceeded expectations in 2026, down from 74% in 2025.
• Science: The percentage dropped from 72% to 57%.
• Math: Scores decreased from 77% to 73%.

Statewide Context

The decline in Andover’s scores is more pronounced than the statewide trends:

• Statewide English: 45% met or exceeded expectations, a decrease of six percentage points from last year.
• Statewide Science: The figure fell to 41%, down five points.
• Statewide Math: A slight decline to 44%.

Despite these declines, Andover’s scores remain higher than the state averages in all subjects.

Understanding the Decline

The reasons for Andover’s sharper declines are unclear, as the percentages reflect different groups of students each year. Possible factors for the statewide decline include:

• Reduced student motivation, particularly since a qualifying score is no longer needed for graduation.
• Changes in incoming high school students’ performance levels.

Elementary and Middle School Performance

Results for grades three through eight in Andover are mixed:

• English: Dropped from 65% to 62%.
• Math: Steady at 68%.
• Combined Science: Increased from 68% to 70%.

Grade-Level Variations

• Fourth Grade English: Declined from 60% to 49% meeting expectations.
• Eighth Grade Math: Increased from 65% to 72%.

Next Steps

Andover News has reached out to Andover Public Schools for comments regarding the 10th grade results and the implications of these changes.

Summary of 10th Grade MCAS Results

This year’s results underline the importance of monitoring educational trends and exploring barriers to student performance.