Roxbury Prep Students Best in the State and Close Achievement Gap Again

 

 

Three cheers for Roxbury Prep!  And when was the last time you heard leaders of school EMBRACE testing?!

“At Roxbury Prep, we embrace the MCAS because we love accountability.  The MCAS provides a standard by which families, communities, and lawmakers can evaluate the quality and effectiveness of education across the state,” states Dana Lehman, the school’s Co-Director.  “If schools aren’t helping students make measurable academic progress each year, then families and the public need to know that—and changes need to be made.”  She continues, “Roxbury Prep’s 2006 MCAS results again demonstrate that, with access to a high-quality education, urban students of color can excel academically.”...

Despite the continued controversy surrounding standardized tests, Phillips sees the MCAS as an important advocacy tool for students and families, especially students and families of color.  He argues, “Without the MCAS, families, community activists, and lawmakers would have a difficult time holding schools accountable for their performance.  Students would continue to suffer.

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Roxbury Prep Students Best in the State and Close Achievement Gap Again

Roxbury Prep’s 8^th grade math scores highest in the state

 

October 18, 2006 – Roxbury, MA.  On the 2006 8^th grade math MCAS test, Roxbury Preparatory Charter School outperformed every school district in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  In fact, Roxbury Prep was ranked 2^nd of 458 schools in the state on the 8^th grade math test.  Furthermore, for the third consecutive year, Roxbury Prep—an Intel and Scholastic School of Distinction—stands as the highest-performing urban middle school in Massachusetts.¹  Roxbury Prep is a public middle school in Roxbury enrolling 200 students of color, 66% of whom qualify for the federal free and reduced price lunch program.

Since enrolling its first 6^th grade class in 1999, Roxbury Prep has redefined what families can expect from urban public education.  On six of the seven MCAS tests administered in 2006, the percentage of Roxbury Prep students scoring Advanced or Proficient was higher than that of the state’s White students.  Roxbury Prep demonstrates with clarity that the long-standing “racial achievement gap” can be closed.

On the 8^th grade math test, Roxbury Prep had the highest percentage of students scoring Advanced or Proficient (90%) of any predominantly Black school in the state and any public school in Boston.  Moreover, Roxbury Prep students scored Advanced or Proficient at the same rate as the Boston Latin School and at a higher rate than students in Wayland (70%), Wellesley (66%), and Weston (66%). 

“At Roxbury Prep, we embrace the MCAS because we love accountability.  The MCAS provides a standard by which families, communities, and lawmakers can evaluate the quality and effectiveness of education across the state,” states Dana Lehman, the school’s Co-Director.  “If schools aren’t helping students make measurable academic progress each year, then families and the public need to know that—and changes need to be made.”  She continues, “Roxbury Prep’s 2006 MCAS results again demonstrate that, with access to a high-quality education, urban students of color can excel academically.”

Roxbury Prep teachers are intent on improving the literacy and numeracy skills of their students.  According to the school’s eighth grade Algebra teacher, Jami Therrien, “One-third of students arrive over two grade levels behind.  Many have gone through school not knowing basic multiplication tables or how to add without their fingers.  Our double math periods are a sign of the urgency we feel towards education.  We’re providing essentially six years of math in three years, and it still doesn’t feel like enough.”  Roxbury Prep places an intense focus on its core academic program.  Every student participates in two language arts classes and two mathematics classes each day, as well as classes in social studies and science.  Extended learning occurs before school, after school, during occasional Saturday sessions, and through summer opportunities.

However, Josh Phillips, the school’s other Co-Director, quickly points out that Roxbury Prep is far from satisfied.  “Our 8^th grade math results prove that our students are more than capable of performing as well as or better than students in the state’s most affluent communities like Weston and Wellesley.  Nevertheless, until we outperform the affluent suburbs on every single test, we must continue to refine our curriculum and work harder.”  He added, “While we are extremely proud of our teachers, students, and families, we will not be satisfied until we outperform every middle school in Massachusetts, and eventually, the nation.” 

Despite the continued controversy surrounding standardized tests, Phillips sees the MCAS as an important advocacy tool for students and families, especially students and families of color.  He argues, “Without the MCAS, families, community activists, and lawmakers would have a difficult time holding schools accountable for their performance.  Students would continue to suffer.”  Adds Lehman, “Our kids are proof that race and socioeconomic status do not preclude high student achievement.  Every child is capable of learning; it is the school’s job to make sure that they do.  Roxbury Prep’s performance on the 2006 MCAS should inspire families and community leaders statewide to demand a higher quality education for low-income students and students of color.”

Roxbury Preparatory Charter School is a public charter school founded to offer Boston’s students a rigorous, college preparatory education.  Roxbury Prep’s mission is to prepare its students to enter, succeed in, and graduate from college.  For more information about Roxbury Prep, please visit www.roxburyprep.org. 

¹ Middle schools serve students in grades 5-8 or 6-8 exclusively.  Among all urban public schools serving students in grades 6-8 (including K-8, 5-12, and 6-12 schools), Roxbury Prep had the 2^nd highest percentage of students scoring advanced or proficient on the MCAS tests – behind the K-8 Community Day Charter School in Lawrence, MA.

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