Watertown Public Schools

30 Common St, Watertown, MA 02472 USA 617-926-7766 fax: 617-926-9759 www.watertown.k12.ma.us

Ann Koufman-Frederick, Ph.D. Elisabeth Schaefer, M.A.

Superintendent Director of Student Services

September 28, 2010

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Enclosed you will find your child’s MCAS Alternative Assessment (MCAS-Alt) scores from last spring. The
overall Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) is designed to measure important skills
and knowledge in core academic subjects: English Language Arts and Mathematics in grades 3-8 and 10, and
Science in grades 5, 8, and in high school. MCAS has two purposes: the first is to measure individual student
performance and make sure that every child has adequate knowledge and skills by the time they graduate from
high school; the second is to assess and publicly release school and district performance ratings, holding school
systems accountable for student achievement.

The purpose of the MCAS-Alt is to make sure schools are teaching the state’s learning standards to all
students, regardless of their disability, and to help explore student’s capabilities, even when they cannot
demonstrate those capabilities on a standardized test like MCAS. Students taking the MCAS-Alt work with
their teachers and other instructional staff over the course of the year, and create a portfolio that demonstrates
their academic understanding in one or more subject areas. Student Portfolios are carefully reviewed and
individually scored. Each portfolio is awarded one of the following levels of performance: Incomplete
(insufficient evidence and information included); Awareness (students demonstrate very little understanding);
Emerging (simple understanding below grade-level expectations); Progressing (partial understanding below
grade-level expectations); Needs Improvement (partial understanding of grade level subject matter); Proficient
(solid understanding of challenging grade-level subject matter); Advanced (comprehensive understanding of
challenging grade-level subject matter). In order for a student to graduate from Watertown High School they
will need to reach the Needs Improvement level or above, demonstrating knowledge and skills at a grade 10
level of performance.

Watertown continues our commitment to the education of all children. If you have questions about your child’s
MCAS-Alt performance please do not hesitate to call your child’s special education teacher.

If you would like to learn more about the MCAS Alt in general please visit the Department of Elementary and
Secondary Education Web page which can be found at http://www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/alt/resources.html.

Sincerely,

Elisabeth Schaefer
Director of Student Services
 Cunniff Elementary School
246 Warren St, Watertown, MA 02472 USA 617-926-7726 fax: 617-924-0420 www.watertown.k12.ma.us

Ann Koufman-Frederick, Ph.D. Cynthia W. Crimmin, Ph.D.

Superintendent Principal
ccrimmin@watertown.k12.ma.us
617-926-7726 (fax) 617-924-0420

September 23, 2010

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Enclosed you will find your child’s MCAS scores from last spring. The MCAS (Massachusetts Comprehensive
Assessment System) is a series of standardized tests designed to measure important skills and knowledge in
selected academic subjects: English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science. The MCAS has two purposes: the
first is to measure individual student performance and make sure that every child has adequate knowledge and
skills by the time they graduate from high school; the second is to assess and publicly release school and district
performance ratings, holding school systems accountable for student achievement.

There is a lot of information on your test results, including your child’s performance level (advanced, proficient,
needs improvement, or warning), his or her scaled scores (200 – 280), and a comparison of your child’s scores
with the average scores of other students in the school, district, and state. This year’s scores for current 5th grade
students are also accompanied by a growth score, which represents the state’s best early efforts to identify how
much student scores have improved over time. If you have questions about your child’s MCAS results, please call
your child’s guidance counselor. You can also go online to the district web site and click on “District
Assessment” on the right-hand column for information around your child’s scores.

This year, the Cunniff School’s overall rating in both ELA and Mathematics is, once again, “High”, with
continued, gradual improvement in several areas. For example, 55% of our current Grade 5 students performed
in the Proficient or Advanced category, a 12% improvement over the performance of this cohort last year. ELA
scores for this group of students were up to 43% Advanced or Proficient, a 2% improvement over the previous
year’s scores in ELA. Students in our Grade 3 classes made a solid showing for their first round of assessments
with 71% in the Proficient or Advanced categories in ELA. While these scores do not represent an all-time high
at this grade at the Cunniff, the scores are stronger than were the previous two years of Grade 3 scores (40%
Proficient or Advanced in 2008 and 70% Proficient and Advanced in 2009). Student performance in
Mathematics was strongest in Grade 3 with 77% of the students scoring in the Proficient or Advanced categories,
and Grade 5 Mathematics, where 12% more students earned in the higher categories than they had when in
Grade 4.

While performance in many areas continues to be consistent, we were disappointed that, as a school, we did not
make the threshold for Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) for the first year in either ELA or Mathematics.
Adequate Yearly Progress is calculated based on the score in CPI (Composite Performance Index) units needed to
reach the national goal of 100% proficiency by 2014. This year, the Cunniff School missed the necessary marker
in English Language Arts with a score of 81.3 versus an expected 90.2 target, and with a narrow margin of 83.5
versus a target of 84.3 in Mathematics. Although more and more schools struggle to meet this target as we
approach 2014, we, at the Cunniff, still take the meeting of this goal seriously.

These scores, in conjunction with many other measures of students’ learning growth, serve to guide our work in
the schools. They help us target our focus on areas that need attention, and they provide us with the data that can
highlight our successes. Ultimately, the real measure of our children’s learning will be the lives they are prepared
to lead as adults. In this task, strong communication between home and schools, and caring, consistent adult
support make all the difference. Thank you for supporting our work here at the Cunniff.

Sincerely,

Cindy Crimmin, Ph.D

Principal
 Hosmer Elementary School
1 Concord Rd, Watertown, MA 02472 USA 617-926-7740 fax: 617-926-3259 www.watertown.k12.ma.us

Ann Koufman-Frederick, Ph.D. Anne Hardiman, Co-Principal

Superintendent ahardiman@watertown.k12.ma.us
William F. McCarthy, Co-Principal
wmccarthy@watertown.k12.ma.us

September 23, 2010

Dear Parents and Guardians:

Enclosed you will find your child’s MCAS scores from last spring. The MCAS (Massachusetts
Comprehensive Assessment System) is a series of standardized tests designed to measure important
skills and knowledge in selected academic subjects: English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science.
The MCAS has two purposes: the first is to measure individual student performance and make sure that
every child has adequate knowledge and skills by the time they graduate from high school; the second
is to assess and publicly release school and district performance ratings, holding school systems
accountable for student achievement.

There is a lot of information on your test results, including your child’s performance level (advanced,
proficient, needs improvement, or warning), his or her scaled scores (200 – 280), and a comparison of
your child’s scores with the average scores of other students in the school, district, and state. This
year’s scores for current 5th grade students are also accompanied by a growth score, which represents
the state’s best early efforts to identify how much student scores have improved over time. If you have
questions about your child’s MCAS results, please call your child’s guidance counselor. You can also
go online to the district web site and click on “District Assessment” on the right-hand column for
information around your child’s scores.

We are pleased to report that our 4th grade student growth percentiles have consistently improved over
the past 3 years in both English Language Arts and Mathematics. In 2010, 56% of our 4th grade
students scored proficient in English Language Arts compared to 38% in 2008. This indicates an 18%
increase in proficiency over 3 years. In Mathematics, 48% of the students reached proficiency in 2010
compared to 36% in 2008. Historically, 4th grade scores have dipped at the school, district and state
level. We are encouraged to see notable improvement in proficiency at the 4th grade level for Hosmer
students..

Adequate Yearly Progress is an accountability measure under the No Child Left Behind Act to
determine progress in meeting the national goal for all students to be proficient in Mathematics and
English Language Arts by the year 2014. We did not reach our AYP goals in English Language Arts
and Mathematics this year. These goals are difficult to attain, get higher each year and we will work
hard to meet our AYP goals for all students and all subgroups, in all subjects.

We continue to examine curriculum, teaching practices, student services and enrichment resources to
determine how to best educate your children and inspire them toward greatness. MCAS scores are not
the sole measure of a student’s or a school’s achievement level. Yet they are helpful indicators for
schools and families alike, highlighting points of strength and need. We look forward to working
together with you to ensure that all our children are successful in school.

Sincerely,

Anne M. Hardiman William F. McCarthy

 Lowell Elementary School
175 Orchard St, Watertown, MA 02472 USA 617-926-7770 fax: 617-926-2676 www.watertown.k12.ma.us

Darilyn C. Donovan
Principal
Ann M. Koufman- Frederick, Ph.D. ddonovan@watertown.k12.ma.us
Superintendent 617-926-7770 (fax) 617-926-2676

September 23, 2010

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Enclosed you will find your child’s MCAS scores from last spring. The MCAS (Massachusetts
Comprehensive Assessment System) is a series of standardized tests designed to measure important
skills and knowledge in selected academic subjects: English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science.
The MCAS has two purposes: the first is to measure individual student performance and make sure that
every child has adequate knowledge and skills by the time they graduate from high school; the second
is to assess and publicly release school and district performance ratings, holding school systems
accountable for student achievement.

There is a lot of information on your test results, including your child’s performance level (advanced,
proficient, needs improvement, or warning), his or her scaled scores (200 – 280), and a comparison of
your child’s scores with the average scores of other students in the school, district, and state. This
year’s scores for current 5th grade students are also accompanied by a growth score, which represents
the state’s best early efforts to identify how much student scores have improved over time. If you have
questions about your child’s MCAS results, please call your child’s guidance counselor. You can also
go online to the district web site and click on “District Assessment” on the right-hand column for
information around your child’s scores.

This year, the Lowell School’s overall performance rating in both ELA and Mathematics is, once
again, “High”, with our overall improvement rating being “On Target”. Of note, 79% of our Grade 5
students last year performed in the Proficient or Advanced category in ELA, and 76% of those same
students were in the advanced or proficient range for Math, too. Our fourth grade scores have
notoriously dipped and more closely mirror the state averages yet again this year. Third grade scores in
ELA are at 80% proficient or above, a significant increase over last years 61%. Third grade math
shows a slight increase over last year from 77% to 84% proficient or above.

While performance in many areas continues to be consistent, we were disappointed that, as a school,
we did not make the threshold for Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) for Mathematics for one subgroup.
Although more and more schools struggle to meet this target, for all subgroups, as we approach 2014,
we, at the Lowell, still take the meeting of this goal seriously.

These scores, in conjunction with many other measures of students’ learning growth, serve to guide our
work in the schools. They help us target our focus on areas that need attention, and they provide us
with the data that can highlight our successes. Ultimately, the real measure of our children’s learning
will be the lives they are prepared to lead as adults. In this task, strong communication between home
and schools, and caring, consistent adult support make all the difference. Thank you for supporting our
work here at the Lowell.

Sincerely,
 Watertown Middle School
68 Waverly Ave, Watertown, MA 02472-3492 (617) 926-7783 Fax: (617) 926-5407

Ann Koufman-Frederick, Ph.D. J. Kimo Carter, Principal

Superintendent kcarter@watertown.k12.ma.us
Jason Del Porto, Asst. Principal
jdelporto@watertown.k12.ma.us

September 24, 2010

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Enclosed you will find your child’s MCAS scores from last spring. The MCAS (Massachusetts Comprehensive
Assessment System) is a series of standardized tests designed to measure important skills and knowledge in core academic
subjects: English Language Arts and Mathematics in every grade, and Science for fifth and eighth graders. The MCAS
has two purposes: the first is to measure individual student performance and make sure that every child has adequate
knowledge and skills by the time they graduate from high school; the second is to assess and publicly release school and
district performance ratings, holding school systems accountable for student achievement.

There is a lot of information on your test results, including your child’s performance level (advanced, proficient, needs
improvement, or warning), his or her scaled scores (200 – 280), and a comparison of your child’s scores with the average
scores of other students in the school, district, and state. Additionally, there is now a new “growth” model that compares
your student’s current performance to previous years. If you have questions about your child’s MCAS results, please do
not hesitate to call your child’s guidance counselor. You also can go online to the district web site and click on “District
Assessment” on the right-hand column for information around your child’s scores.

Watertown Middle School’s scores continue to remain strong in most areas, especially when compared to years past. In
mathematics, 56% of our students scored in the proficient and advanced categories in 2010. Compare this to 53% in 2008
and 46% in 2006 and we see a four-year increase of 10%. In English Language Arts, 75% of our students scored in the
proficient and advanced categories in 2010. Compare this to 80% in 2008 and 71% in 2006 and you see a drop of 5% in
the last two years but a four-year gain of 4%. While math is improving steadily, we are concerned about the flattening out
of our English scores.

Over the last four years we have made similar gains with our measured subgroups: English Language Learners, Special
Education students, low-income students, and Latino students. However, this year we were not able to meet all of our
Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) goals, as we fell short with some of the subgroups. These AYP goals are difficult to
attain and get higher every year. Although we are significantly above state averages and show long-term improvement
with each of the identified subgroups, we still fell short of the AYP benchmarks last year.

As a school, we understand we still have much work to do. Although we have improved substantially over the last six
years, recent MCAS scores tell us that we need to push harder to continue to improve at the rate we are accustomed to.
We take this as a challenge. Specifically, we are working hard to engage all students at high levels, use real-time
assessment data to inform and improve instruction, and ensure that all of our students feel connected and safe so that they
can learn at their highest potential. Much of the credit for our long-term improvement goes to students and families.
Learning often does not come easily, and it is only through hard work, perseverance, and family support that our students
can attain higher achievement levels. Thank you for your support!

Best regards,

J. Kimo Carter, Principal

 W atertown High School
50 Columbia Street, Watertown, MA 02472-3492 (617) 926-7760 Fax: (617) 926-7723

Ann Koufman-Frederick, Ph.D. Steve Watson, Headmaster

Superintendent swatson@watertown.k12.ma.us
Annmarie Boudreau, Associate Headmaster
aboudreau@watertown.k12.ma.us

September 23, 2010

Dear Parents and Guardians:

Enclosed you will find your child’s MCAS scores from last spring. The MCAS (Massachusetts Comprehensive
Assessment System) is a series of standardized tests designed to measure important skills and knowledge in selected
academic subjects: English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science. The MCAS has two purposes: the first is to
measure individual student performance and make sure that every child has adequate knowledge and skills by the time
they graduate from high school; the second is to assess and publicly release school and district performance ratings,
holding school systems accountable for student achievement.

Watertown High School students take MCAS tests in English and math in the tenth grade. They also take science MCAS
tests in either the ninth or tenth grade, depending upon their course placement and readiness for assessment.
Massachusetts requires that all students earn passing scores on each of these tests in order to receive their high school
diploma. Students who receive failing marks on any test have several chances to retake exams before graduation. Students
who receive a “needs improvement” mark in English or math are put on an Educational Proficiency Plan (EPP) that
outlines the coursework a student requires to demonstrate sufficient skills before graduation.

I am pleased to report that Watertown High School again met all of our Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) goals this year.
In English Language Arts, 85% of our students scored in the Proficient or Advanced categories, and in Mathematics, 79%
of our students scored in the Proficient or Advanced categories. In tenth grade science (primarily biology), 69% of our
students scored in the Proficient or Advanced categories, but those numbers do not include students who already passed
MCAS science exams in the ninth grade. Again, we tested a smaller number of students in ninth grade science (primarily
introductory physics), and of those 42 students, 91% scored in the Proficient or Advanced categories.

We will continue to examine our curriculum, teaching practices, and student services to determine how we can best
educate your children and inspire them toward greatness. MCAS scores are not the sole measure of a student’s or a
school’s achievement level. Yet they are helpful indicators for schools and families alike, highlighting points of strength
and need.

There is a lot of information on your test results, including your child’s performance level (advanced, proficient, needs
improvement, or warning), his or her scaled scores (200 – 280), and a comparison of your child’s scores with the average
scores of other students in the school, district, and state. This year’s scores are also accompanied by a growth score, which
represents the state’s best early efforts to identify how much student scores have improved over time. If you have
questions about your child’s MCAS results, please do not hesitate to call your child’s guidance counselor. You also can
go online to the district web site and click on “District Assessment” on the right-hand column for information around your
child’s scores. Thank you for your continued support as we work together to ensure that all our children are successful in
school.

Warmly,

Steve Watson