A Focused Review of 2025 Somerville MCAS and Accountability Data: Addressing Challenges for Students with Disabilities (SWD)

A data-driven analysis of persistent inequities and significant academic outcomes in Somerville Public Schools.

Executive Summary: Attendance Progress Masks Academic Challenges

The 2025 accountability data for Somerville Public Schools reveals a serious and urgent challenge in academic outcomes for Students with Disabilities (SWD). While the district achieved commendable progress in key areas of student presence, these gains are overshadowed by acute academic declines:

• Advanced Coursework Completion: Fell by -18.4 percentage points in a single year, now standing at 28.2%. This represents a major setback for post-secondary and career readiness for this cohort.

• High School MCAS Performance: The high school experienced significant dips in both ELA and Math performance, with both subjects classified as Low Growth (Student Growth Percentile (SGP) ~37).

• Grade 10 Math: Only 4% of SWD met expectations, the lowest rate observed in five years.

  
  

These results indicate that while success has been achieved in getting students present in school, structural improvements are urgently needed to ensure they are being served effectively once there.

Academic Achievement Trends (2021–2025): Analyzing Persistent Gaps

The multi-year analysis of MCAS data across grades 3-8 illustrates that while overall district performance has been relatively stable, the achievement gaps for Students with Disabilities (SWD) remain stubbornly wide, showing little substantial movement in recent years.

ELA Proficiency (Grades 3–8) (2021–2025): A Static Gap

The MCAS proficiency rates below reveal that the achievement gap between All Students and the SWD cohort has remained virtually unchanged over the last five years, signaling a persistent lack of progress in closing foundational literacy gaps.

YEAR	ALL STUDENTS - Meeting or Exceeding Expectations (%)	SWD - Meeting or Exceeding Expectations (%)	GAP (PTS)
2021	41%	14%	27
2022	41%	14%	27
2023	39%	13%	26
2024	38%	12%	26
2025	39%	13%	26

Math Proficiency (Grades 3–8) (2021–2025): Stalled Progress

In Math, despite small overall gains since 2021, the achievement gap continues to show entrenched disparities in mathematical proficiency. The SWD cohort has only increased proficiency by 2 points since 2021.

YEAR	ALL STUDENTS - Meeting or Exceeding Expectations (%)	SWD - Meeting or Exceeding Expectations (%)	GAP (PTS)
2021	31%	8%	23
2022	32%	9%	23
2023	33%	9%	24
2024	33%	9%	24
2025	33%	10%	23

Acute Declines in High School Performance

High school outcomes, particularly for the Grade 10 MCAS, highlight where the need for targeted intervention is most pressing. The tables below detail the volatility and overall decline in performance over the past five years.

Grade 10 ELA Proficiency (2021–2025) SWD proficiency in Grade 10 ELA dropped sharply in 2025 to 12%, re-establishing a 31-point gap. This volatility indicates deep inconsistency in current high school support systems.

YEAR	ALL STUDENTS - Meeting or Exceeding Expectations (%)	SWD - Meeting or Exceeding Expectations (%)	GAP (PTS)
2021	45%	16%	29
2022	48%	18%	30
2023	50%	19%	31
2024	49%	20%	29
2025	43%	12%	31

Grade 10 Math Proficiency (2021–2025) The 2025 results show a record low of only 4% of SWD meeting expectations in Math, resulting in the largest achievement gap (35 points) in the five-year period reviewed, underscoring severe instructional deficits.

YEAR	ALL STUDENTS - Meeting or Exceeding Expectations (%)	SWD - Meeting or Exceeding Expectations (%)	GAP (PTS)
2021	35%	7%	28
2022	37%	8%	29
2023	38%	9%	29
2024	40%	9%	31
2025	39%	4%	35

2025 Accountability Metrics: Key Performance Indicators

The 2025 data confirmed improvements in student attendance and retention, but also revealed alarming trends in educational opportunities.

METRIC AREA	INDICATOR	CHANGE	2025 OUTCOME	FINDING
Growth	High School ELA	-13.8 points	SGP 37.2	Classified as Low Growth.
Growth	High School Math	-10.1 points	SGP 37.0	Classified as Low Growth.
Opportunity	Advanced Coursework Complete	-18.4 points	28.2%	Steepest single-year decline, limiting post-secondary potential.
Retention	Dropout Rate	Down -2.3 points	1.1%	Exceeded Target. Positive result.
Attendance	Chronic Absenteeism (HS SWD)	Down -4.4 points	18.8%	Improvement, though nearly two in five SWD students remain chronically absent.

Conclusion: A Call for Structural Reform

The 2025 Somerville data presents a clear picture the district needs to focus on the quality and effectiveness of instruction and support provided to Students with Disabilities. The persistent achievement gaps and the significant setback in opportunity access demand immediate, high-leverage structural reforms to ensure equity is truly achieved and every student can meet their full potential.