The 2018-19 Maine Comprehensive Assessment (MCA) for Wiscasset students showed mixed results over last year’s scores, according to the Maine Department of Education. According to https://www.maine.gov/doe/dashboard, Wiscasset Elementary School showed a half a percentage point improvement in English language arts from 2017-18, but scores declined in math by three percent and in science by 4.9 percent. And Wiscasset Middle High School, students improved six-tenths of a percent in math and four percent in science, but dropped 2.6 percent in English language arts.

The data for both schools was released Friday night. According to the state website, MCA groups elementary students together through grade eight. Elementary students are tested in grades three through eight. For these purposes, the elementary results include middle school students. So the middle high school test scores indicate the high school grades only.

The WES test scores are: English Language Arts: Below or well below statewide standards, 63.6 percent; at or above statewide standards, 36.4 percent. Math: Below or well below statewide standards, 88.9 percent; at or above statewide standards, 11.1 percent. And science: Below or well below statewide standards,  46.4 percent; at or above statewide standards, 53.6 percent.

The WMHS test scores are: English Language Arts: Below or well below statewide standards, 53.7 percent; at or above statewide standards, 46.3 percent. Math: Below or well below statewide standards, 79.3 percent; at or above statewide standards, 20.7 percent. And science: Below or well below statewide standards, 47.5 percent; at or above statewide standards, 52.5 percent.

These are scores for all students. In the Wiscasset School District, 22.6 percent of the student body is identified as having disabilities (19.5 percent of the elementary school and 26.9 percent of the middle high school 9-12 population). Statewide, the percentage of students with disabilities is 17.8 percent. Test scores for students with disabilities statewide range from 70 percent to 90 percent below or well below statewide expectations in all subjects. In Wiscasset, students with disabilities ranged from 61.9 percent to 76.9 percent below or well below statewide expectations for science and English language arts; math scores for students with disabilities were suppressed.

MCA also makes the distinction for elementary school between academic progress and academic achievement in its performance indicators. Those include academics, chronic absenteeism, four-year graduation rate, and five/six-year graduation rate. The indicators are emerging, which means there is still work to be done; developing, which means progress is being made; meeting, as in meeting state standards; and excelling, which means performing beyond state expectations. Both Wiscasset elementary and middle high school are considered emerging in chronic absenteeism.

Students in grades 3-8 are meeting expectations in English language arts academic progress, and are emerging in mathematics progress. Students in grades 3-5 are developing in academic achievement for English language arts, and grades 6-8 are considered emerging. Grades 3-5 are developing in math academic achievement, and grades 6-8 are emerging. In high school, students are excelling in English language arts achievement, and are emerging in mathematics achievement.

The district is meeting its five/six-year graduation rate, and is emerging in its four-year graduation rate.