MCAS scores remain strong in Weston

Weston students exceeded state averages on the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) in 2025, according to new results released by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) last week.

Students from third to 10th grade scored significantly higher than many of their peers in other towns on their English, math and science exams, with some classes nearly doubling state averages.

Pre-pandemic comparison

While on average Weston students outperformed their peers across the state in every metric, Weston’s scores have yet to rebound to their pre-pandemic levels. Although Weston high school students performed well on the test in 2025, with 88% of students in English and 87% in math meeting or exceeding expectations, in 2019 students earned test scores seven and five points higher in English and math, respectively.

At the middle school, and in particular, the seventh grade, some scores were significantly below the 2019 mark. This year, 68% of seventh grade students met or exceeded expectations in English and 74% met that mark in math, while 82% and 91% of students met the threshold in 2019.

While Weston is performing well above the state averages, it was not one of the 63 districts to reach pre-pandemic levels of achievement for grades three through eight. To increase scores, the state is focused on reducing chronic absenteeism and improving early literacy.

“We know that school communities are working hard to support their students, and I’m glad to highlight positive results among several districts while also recognizing the work that we still need to do as a state,” Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler said in a press release. “We know our educators and students can do great things when all students are welcomed to school and attend classes every day, and the state’s investment in early literacy will build a solid start for future academic success.”

Weston, however, is below the average chronic absenteeism rate of the state, with 7.8% of students considered chronically absent, compared to the state average of 18.8%. Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing at least 10% of the school year. Weston’s general attendance rate during the 2024-25 school year was 95.2%, according to DESE statistics.

Additionally, the district is classified as “meeting or exceeding targets” in DESE’s “accountability report,” which measures progress toward annual student achievement goals, absenteeism and high school completion rates, among other indicators.

Superintendent Karen Zaleski declined to comment on MCAS results, as the school district is preparing a full analysis of results to present to the School Committee and the public on Oct. 20.

Results overview

Broadly, Weston’s elementary and middle school students scored well on the MCAS, with 76% of students in grades three through eight meeting or exceeding expectations in English language arts and 77% hitting that benchmark in math, compared to the state average of 42% in English and 41% in math.

In particular, third and fourth grade students nearly doubled the state average, with 81% and 82% of third graders meeting or exceeding expectations in English and math, and 74% and 75% meeting those marks in fourth grade. Third grade math saw 39% of students exceeding expectations, while the state average was 10%.

Eighth grade students also scored significantly higher than their peers on the civics portion of the MCAS, which was new this year, with 70% meeting or exceeding expectations, compared to the state average of 39%.

At the high school, 10th grade students earned strong marks on the MCAS, with 81%, 82% and 77% of students meeting or exceeding expectations in English, math and science, respectively. The state averages for those subjects were 51%, 45% and 46%.

In November of 2024, voters across the state supported the repeal of the law which required a passing score on the MCAS to graduate from high school. Although no longer a graduation requirement, it appears Weston students took the exam seriously.