Results of last spring's MCAS tests indicate that though scores are improving, Wareham students' scores still fall below state averages in most areas.

"We're still below state averages, but we're closing in," said Jan Rotella, Wareham Public Schools Director of Curriculum & Instruction. She added that the district is in a better position in regards to state averages than in previous years.

Students are tested in grades three through eight and in grade 10 in math and English language arts. Students are also tested in science and technology in grades five, eight, and 10.

Scores earned on tests place students in certain performance levels: "warning/failing," "needs improvement," "proficient," and "advanced/above proficient."

Last spring, the percentage of Wareham students receiving "warning/failing" scores was higher than state percentages in all subjects except for grade 10 English; the percentage of students receiving "needs improvement" scores was higher than the state in all subjects; and the percentage of students scoring "advance/above proficient," the highest level of performance, was lower than the state in all subjects.

Percentages for "proficient" scores were even with or slightly higher than state averages in 12 of the 16 grade levels and subjects.

The federal No Child Left Behind Act requires that all public school students be proficient in English and math by 2014, and the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education measures students' progress toward proficiency in those areas through MCAS testing.

Minot Forest Elementary, John W. Decas Elementary, and the middle school remain on state-mandated improvement plans based on student performance.

"This is not where we want to be," said School Committee Chair Cliff Sylvia, after Rotella presented the test results at the committee's Sept. 22 meeting.

Rotella agreed. After receiving preliminary MCAS results over the summer and performing various in-house assessments, administrators had an idea of what improvements would need to be made to positively impact this coming spring's scores, she said.

"Are the results disappointing? Yes. Are they surprising? No," Rotella said after the meeting.

Among the improvements at the elementary level, administrators have increased teaching staff to reduce class sizes, introduced a common planning period for all teachers in all grades, implemented a vocabulary focus and writing program in kindergarten through fifth grades, as well as introduced "teacher teaming" in math, science, English, and history in grades four and five. Teaming allows teachers to specialize in the two subjects in which they have the most training, which Rotella hopes will lead to increased student achievement.

"I think, in the 21st century, it is probably asking too much of any teacher to know everything about everything," Rotella said.

Some of the changes made at the middle school level include the addition of a new vocabulary and writing program for all three grades, as well as a new science program for all three grades. Additionally, teachers will now collaboratively assess student work and plan instruction accordingly.

Sylvia said the district must forge forward.

"I don't believe ... that we can't meet [MCAS] state averages across the board," Sylvia said.

For all of Wareham's MCAS results, click here to visit the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education website.