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Tag: State Science Test Scores

  • Two School Districts Using KnowAtom Tied at 18th in Massachusetts Testing for Science Proficiency

    Press Release
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    updated: Dec 3, 2024

    Manchester-Essex Regional School Students Gain 17 Points and Reading Public Schools Improves by 3 Points to Rank in the Top 10% of 279 School Districts


    Online, December 3, 2024 (Newswire.com)
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    Fifth-grade students from Manchester-Essex Regional School District gained 17 points on the Massachusetts Common Assessment Program for Science (MCAS) and Reading Public Schools students gained 3 points on the state-wide science test in 2024, scoring in the top 10% of the 279 school districts in the state. Both of the public school districts, tied in the rankings at 18th, partner with KnowAtom, a nationwide provider of Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)-based hands-on curricula.

    The Manchester-Essex Regional School District and the Reading Public School District both use KnowAtom’s hands-on science curriculum, which is designed for mastery of Massachusetts Science and Technology Engineering Frameworks. Each district scored 22 points ahead of the state-wide average for science proficiency this year. In 2024, Consumer Affairs ranked Massachusetts the best in the country for public education, noting that “the state has the best fourth-grade reading and eighth-grade math scores in the country on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) tests,” (Consumer Affairs, 2024). This year, the number one and number four ranking districts in the state for science performance, among districts with 30 or more students tested, use KnowAtom curriculum as their core science curriculum.

    “Teachers and administrators in Reading and MERSD share KnowAtom and a commitment to helping their students succeed in science by building hands-on, student-centered environments – and we are excited to celebrate their success,” said Francis Vigeant, CEO of KnowAtom. “When teachers encourage students’ questions to guide the learning process, they enable students to build understanding in the classroom that applies to their lives beyond it. These communities foster an environment where students can engage in their own hands-on science explorations, we equip them with the curriculum, tools and resources needed to master state standards without merely teaching to the test.”

    KnowAtom provides K-8 science curriculum designed for mastery of state science standards.

    Contact Information

    Nicole Lanoue
    Press Contact
    nlanoue@knowatom.com
    617-475-3475 x2002

    Contact Information

    Nicole Lanoue
    Press Contact
    nlanoue@knowatom.com
    617-475-3475 x2002

    Source: KnowAtom / MCAS

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  • School District Ranks 1st for Elementary Science in State Rated Top for Public Education


    NORTH READING, Mass., November 18, 2024 (Newswire.com)
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    Fifth-grade students from North Reading Public School District in Massachusetts achieved the best test scores in the state on this year’s Massachusetts Common Assessment Program for Science (MCAS). The school district ranks first in the state, considered one of the best in the nation for public education, for elementary science this year. The North Reading Public School District is partnered with KnowAtom, a Massachusetts company and nationwide provider of K-8 Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)-based curricula.

    “The commitment of our district’s science leaders and educators supported with access to KnowAtom’s high-quality instructional materials provide amazing learning opportunities for all students. We take great pride in our students’ experiences and celebrate their curiosity and ability to utilize science practices to solve real life problems,” said Sean Killeen, North Reading’s Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning.

    Students from J. Turner Hood School scored highest on the MCAS of the district’s three elementary schools, with 91% of students meeting or exceeding state proficiency levels and no students ranking in the lowest category of “not meeting expectations.” In all, 87% of the district’s fifth-grade students met or exceeded proficiency expectations, placing it first in the state among districts with 30 or more students tested. Only 44% of Massachusetts students statewide met or exceeded proficiency levels (MCAS Data, 2024). The North Reading Public School District uses KnowAtom’s hands-on science curriculum, which is student and phenomena-driven, designed to meet Massachusetts Science and Technology Engineering Frameworks entirely hands-on screens-off. 

    “We are once again so proud of our students and teachers for this great achievement in elementary science that is also reflected in our scores in middle and high school,” said Dr. Patrick Daly, Superintendent of North Reading Public Schools. “We dedicate time in our schedule for science, provide educators with high-quality curriculum materials, benefit from tremendous STEM leadership, first-rate educators, and parents who support our students by engaging in science activities and extracurriculars. There is community-wide support for our STEM programs in North Reading and we are very pleased with the outstanding student results.”

    The district’s 2024 test results represent a 5-point increase over the previous year and a 7-point increase since 2021. In 2024, Consumer Affairs ranked Massachusetts the best in the country for public education, noting that “the state has the best fourth-grade reading and eighth-grade math scores in the country on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) tests” (Consumer Affairs, 2024).

    “With a focus on bringing together a team of highly qualified teachers, classroom methods that help create a culture of thinking, and administration that maintains a vision for quality science instruction, the North Reading Public School District has shown exceptional success yet again. We congratulate our long-term partners for ranking first in Massachusetts,” said Francis Vigeant, CEO of KnowAtom. “KnowAtom partner school districts regularly rank top in the country for science. It takes both teaching and administrative excellence to develop top-performing students across multiple schools year after year, and the North Reading teaching community is more than good, they’re exceptional!”

    About KnowAtom 

    KnowAtom makes real science possible in every K-8 classroom. We provide a complete, high-quality K-8 solution designed for mastery of the Next Generation Science Standards: fully designed professional grade curriculum, integrated hands-on material kits, and targeted professional development. Our research-based, classroom-tested tools and techniques bring students’ ideas to life with hands-on materials and technology.

    Explore more at www.knowatom.com.

    Source: KnowAtom

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  • KnowAtom Curriculum Partner District Ranks 4th for Elementary Science in State Rated First Nationally for Public Education

    Massachusetts’ Carlisle Public Schools Elementary Students Achieve Top Scores in 2024


    CARLISLE, Mass., November 13, 2024 (Newswire.com)
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    Fifth-grade students from Carlisle Public Schools achieved top scores in the state on this year’s 2024 Massachusetts Common Assessment Program for Science (MCAS). The school district ranks fourth in the state for science, considered first in the nation for public education by Consumer Affairs. Carlisle Public Schools partners with KnowAtom, a nationwide provider of hands-on Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)-based hands-on curricula. 

    District-wide, 81% of fifth-grade students from Carlisle Public Schools met or exceeded expectations set by the state on this year’s MCAS, representing a 3-point increase over the district’s 2023 scores. Statewide, only 44% of Massachusetts students met or exceeded proficiency levels (MCAS Data, 2024). Carlisle Public Schools uses KnowAtom’s hands-on science curriculum, which is designed for hands-on screens-off mastery of Massachusetts Science and Technology Engineering Frameworks. Another KnowAtom partner in Massachusetts, North Reading Public Schools, ranked 1st in the state this year for science. 

    In 2024, Consumer Affairs ranked Massachusetts the best in the country for public education, noting that “the state has the best fourth-grade reading and eighth-grade math scores in the country on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) tests,” (Consumer Affairs, 2024). This year, two of the top four districts in the state for science are KnowAtom curriculum partners.

    “We’re proud to be long-term partners with Carlisle Elementary, whose teachers are a conscientious and student-focused team of experienced practitioners who are supported by an equally student- and teacher-focused principal,” said Francis Vigeant, CEO of KnowAtom. “Ranking 4th in a state that is considered one of the best in the nation isn’t an accident, it comes from focused, skillful collaboration between highly qualified teachers, classroom methods focused on creating a culture of thinking, and leadership that maintains a vision for quality science instruction.”

    About KnowAtom 

    KnowAtom makes real science possible in every K-8 classroom. We provide a complete K-8 solution designed for mastery of the Next Generation Science Standards: fully aligned curriculum, integrated hands-on materials, and targeted professional development. Our research-based, classroom-tested tools and techniques bring students’ own ideas to life with hands-on materials and technology.

    To learn more, visit www.knowatom.com

    Source: KnowAtom / Carlisle Public Schools / MCAS

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  • Rural Regional School District Achieves Significant Increase in State Science Test Scores With New KnowAtom Curriculum

    Massachusetts’ Orange School District Achieves 26-Point Increase in Science Proficiency


    ORANGE, Mass., November 7, 2024 (Newswire.com)
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    Fifth-grade students from Fisher Hill Elementary School achieved their highest-ever proficiency levels on the Next Generation Massachusetts Common Assessment Program for Science (MCAS) in 2024. The school district partners with KnowAtom, a nationwide provider of Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)-based hands-on curricula. Leanne Lovell, a 5th grade teacher at Fisher Hill says, “The students are more engaged than ever using KnowAtom. Each student has their own supplies, and they feel like real scientists.”

    Students from the rural Massachusetts community of Orange, MA, gained 15 points over last year’s state test results. These scores also represent a 26-point improvement over the district’s results in 2022 and are just nine points shy of the statewide average. 

    “I’m not surprised at all!” says Fisher Hill’s 6th Grade Teacher Chrislyn Newton, “Science has never been more engaging! Our students have a limited background in grade-level science topics, and they have absolutely blown us away with what they are capable of doing in our science classrooms. We wanted a science program that was science-focused and hands-on for our students. It was important that we not just sign on for another reading anthology disguised as science. This program does a wonderful job of delivering important information with consistent application and hands-on opportunities. The materials are wonderful and prepared with students and busy teachers in mind!”

    Fisher Hill Elementary School uses KnowAtom’s hands-on science curriculum for grades K-6, which is designed to teach Massachusetts Science and Technology Engineering Frameworks entirely hands-on screens-off. In 2024, Consumer Affairs ranked Massachusetts the best in the country for public education, noting that “the state has the best fourth-grade reading and eighth-grade math scores in the country on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) tests,” (Consumer Affairs, 2024). This year, two of the top four districts in the state are KnowAtom curriculum partners.

    “Rural schools face a lot of unique challenges, and to see a district’s science test scores rise 15 points in one year and 26 points in just two years is remarkable,” said Francis Vigeant, CEO of KnowAtom. “KnowAtom’s hands-on curriculum gives teachers the tools, training, and resources to engage their students to think like scientists and engineers in the classroom. The success of the Fisher Hill Elementary School’s students this year highlights the impact that teachers with the right resources have on learning outcomes when they engage students’ thinking about phenomena and empower them to use their own ideas to solve problems and answer questions through prototyping and experimentation.”

    About KnowAtom 

    KnowAtom makes real science possible with complete K-8 resources designed for mastery of NGSS: fully aligned curriculum, integrated hands-on materials, and targeted professional development.

    Explore more at www.knowatom.com

    Source: KnowAtom

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  • KnowAtom Partner District Easton Public Schools Scores Double-Digit Lead on State Science Test

    KnowAtom Partner District Easton Public Schools Scores Double-Digit Lead on State Science Test


    EASTON, Mass., November 1, 2024 (Newswire.com)
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    Fifth-grade students from Easton Public Schools improved proficiency levels by five points on the Massachusetts Common Assessment Program for Science (MCAS) in 2024, scoring 12 points higher than the statewide average. The school district currently partners with KnowAtom, a nationwide provider of Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)-based hands-on curricula. 

    Easton Public Schools uses KnowAtom’s hands-on science curriculum, which is designed for mastery of Massachusetts Science and Technology Engineering Frameworks. In 2024, Consumer Affairs ranked Massachusetts the best in the country for public education, noting that “the state has the best fourth-grade reading and eighth-grade math scores in the country on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) tests,” (Consumer Affairs, 2024). This year, two of the top four districts in the state for science performance are KnowAtom curriculum partners. 

    “We are thrilled to see our significant growth and achievement in the Science MCAS, a testament to the high-quality curriculum, KnowAtom, we have implemented,” said Christine Pruitt, Assistant Superintendent of Easton Public Schools. “This success is not just due to the curriculum itself but also to the exceptional professional development that KnowAtom has provided to our staff. Our teachers have recognized the program’s value, particularly as it spirals and enhances our vertical alignment of standards, ensuring that students build on their knowledge year after year. This collaborative approach has empowered our educators to deliver engaging and effective science instruction, leading to our students’ impressive outcomes.”

    In Easton’s fourth year of full implementation K-5, Assistant Superintendent Pruitt points out that it is important to note that Easton’s grade 8 science data is now 27 points above the state average as well. She said, “Although we only use KnowAtom in grades K-5, the impact is lasting.” Massachusetts districts are also monitored by the state for returning student performance to pre-COVID achievement levels in targeted data subsets. With this most recent data, Easton Public Schools’ Path to Recovery rating has improved from “Recovery Path” to “Path Forward” in seven out of nine data subsets. 

    “Something great is underway at Easton Public Schools, and KnowAtom is honored to be a partner in their success,” said Francis Vigeant, CEO of KnowAtom. “Educators in Easton understand firsthand that to equip students with the skills and experience they need to become learners for the long haul, we must empower them as thinkers and doers in the classroom today. Easton has a big vision for what teaching and learning can be for students, and everyone is working together toward that goal — administrators, principals, teachers, and students. These increases reflect that coordinated effort.”

    KnowAtom provides K-8 science curriculum designed for state standards mastery.

    Source: KnowAtom

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