WORCESTER – Tuesday, September 22, 2026 – The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has released annual accountability data for the Worcester Public Schools (WPS) for the 2025-26 school year that ended in June. 

As a district, WPS maintained its overall classification of “not requiring assistance or intervention” for “making moderate progress toward targets.”

Of the 44 WPS schools to receive accountability classifications, 31 were deemed “not requiring assistance or intervention” and 13 were labeled “requiring assistance or intervention.” 

Four elementary schools were classified as “Schools of Recognition” for their performance in 2026: Columbus Park, McGrath, Midland, and Worcester Arts Magnet. Each year, DESE identifies a small number of schools across the state that demonstrate notable progress toward their annual accountability targets with an emphasis on improved achievement and high growth in English Language Arts and mathematics.

DESE uses student scores on the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) exam as a key metric to determine accountability results. Statewide, MCAS scores declined in English Language Arts and remained flat in math.

WPS student scores reflected statewide results: scores remained flat in grades 3-8 and declined in grade 10. Two years ago, a ballot initiative removed MCAS as a high school graduation requirement.

“Accountability data gives us the urgency to look under the hood,” said Brian E. Allen, Superintendent of Worcester Public Schools. “State testing gives us one piece of the picture. We must stay the course with our core academic strategies, focusing on areas that are working well, and pinpointing learning gaps to target support where it’s most needed.”

The accountability report also shared the following information for Worcester Public Schools as a whole:

• The four-year graduation rate remained at about 86%, the same as the year prior. The statewide average is 89%. 

• The dropout rate remains unchanged from the year prior at 2% in 2026.

• The advanced coursework rate increased from about 52% in 2025 to 54% in 2026.

• English Learners in grades 1-8 exceeded targets on English language proficiency attainment, gaining 7 points since the prior year; high school students declined by 3 points in this area.

• The chronic absenteeism rate remains essentially unchanged from the year prior: 19% for grades K-8 and 34% for grades 9-12.

District-wide MCAS scores show the following:

• English Language Arts, grades 3-8, meeting or exceeding expectations:

  • 2026: 25%

  • 2025: 26%

• English Language Arts, grade 10, meeting or exceeding expectations:

  • 2026: 26%

  • 2025: 33%

• Math, grades 3-8, meeting or exceeding expectations:

  • 2026: 24%

  • 2025: 24%

• Math, grade 10, meeting or exceeding expectations:

  • 2026: 20%

  • 2025: 24%

School-Level Summary

• Of the 44 district schools subject to accountability designations, four schools “met or exceeded targets,” 19 made “significant progress,” 18 made “moderate progress,” and 3 made “limited or no progress” toward their 2026 targets. 

• 21 schools increased their overall accountability scores from last year. The following schools increased by at least five percentage points:

  • Flagg Street Elementary

  • Lake View Elementary 

  • Wawecus Road Elementary

  • Midland Street Elementary

  • Worcester Arts Magnet Elementary

  • Columbus Park Elementary

  • McGrath Elementary

• The following schools met 75% or more of their annual progress targets in 2026. 

• Columbus Park Elementary School: 98% of targets met in 2026

• Worcester Arts Magnet School: 90% of targets met

• Flagg Street Elementary School: 89% of targets met

• Francis McGrath Elementary School: 89% of targets met

• Worcester Dual Language Magnet School: 80% of targets met

• Elm Park Elementary School: 78% of targets met

All WPS 2025-26 accountability data will be available on the DESE website.