School Committee Reviews 2026 MCAS Results Showing Mixed District Performance
Salem School Committee reviewed 2026 MCAS results showing mixed performance across district schools. Superintendent Dr. Tommy Welch reported 81 percent of 11th-12th graders passed advanced courses while chronic absenteeism dropped to 16.8 percent, the second-lowest among Gateway Cities.
School Committee · Meeting of October 5, 2026
Salem School Committee reviewed 2026 MCAS results showing mixed performance across district schools. Superintendent Dr. Tommy Welch reported 81 percent of 11th-12th graders passed advanced courses while chronic absenteeism dropped to 16.8 percent, the second-lowest among Gateway Cities.
However, achievement gaps persist: 30 percent of grades 3-8 ELA students met expectations, ranking 7th among Gateway Cities, while 25 percent met math expectations, ranking 13th. Deputy Superintendent M. Kate Carbone outlined action plans emphasizing daily instructional cycles and targeted classroom walkthroughs, and the committee unanimously approved a Salem High School field trip to the Dominican Republic for February 2028.
In the full story:
- The complete report — 348 words
Source: the School Committee meeting of October 5, 2026, compiled from the official minutes.
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