Assessment Overview
Assessment in the Newton Public Schools
Teaching and learning in the Newton Public Schools is assessed using national, state and local instruments. Since 1998, student progress has been measured, in part, using the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS).
In the spring of 2016, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (MA DESE) determined that future testing would be done with a new version of MCAS- now known as Next-Generation MCAS. MCAS was the state’s assessment instrument for science in all tested grades (5th, 8th and 9th) through 2019. High School students will be assessed with the Next Generation MCAS beginning in 2020.
In addition to MCAS, Newton Public Schools assesses students more frequently using a variety of other assessments chosen for particular purposes. These assessments are either formative or summative.