Results of MCAS testing for spring 2014 were released last week by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. By the looks of it, Wareham still has some work to do.

The statewide standardized tests are designed to hold schools, districts, and students accountable for student performance in three core subjects: English, math and science and technology. Results are categorized by achievement level: Advanced, Proficient, Needs Improvement, and Warning/Failing.

District-wide, Wareham’s students performed below the state average in all three subjects.

Looked at by grade level, the only exception to the district’s below-state-average performance was in the fourth grade. There, the percentage of Wareham fourth graders attaining Advanced or Proficient status in math topped the state average by four points. In English, the percentage of Advanced and Proficient fourth graders wase only one percentage point below the state average.

In Grade 10, however, Wareham’s test performance ranked in the bottom 10 percent in the state in all three subject areas, as measured by the percentage of students in the combined Advanced and Proficient categories.

“The MCAS results provide us with a great opportunity to continue to work hard and to provide our students with an outstanding educational experience,” said Superintendent Dr. Kimberly Shaver-Hood. “While I do have concern with the results, we continue to put things in place to address these areas.”

Wareham students did score improvements in some areas compared to last year’s MCAS results.

The percentage of Grade 10 students scoring Advanced in science and technology increased from 6 to 15 percent.

Yet the 54 percentage of Wareham Grade 10 students scoring Advanced and Proficient combined ranked Wareham as fifth from the bottom in the state. Southbridge placed last in the state with 51 percent. The state average was 71 percent.

In mathematics, only 62 percent of tenth graders attained the Proficient or Advanced level. Brockton, Clinton, and Everett performed similarly, with Worcester placing last with only 59 percent.

In English, 81 percent of Wareham’s tenth graders scored Proficient or Advanced. Somerville, Chicopee, and Lowell scored similarly. The state average was 90 percent.

Fourth graders had the strongest results in the district.

In outscoring the state average in math, the percentage of student placing in the combined Proficient and Advanced categories in math rose six percentage points from last year. In English the comparable percentage rose seven points from last year.

Fifth graders also showed improvement from last year. The percentage of students scoring Advanced in science and technology went from nine to 18 percent while the percentage of students scoring Proficient rose by nine points. The percentage of students scoring Advanced in math rose from 15 to 21 percent.

Wareham’s sixth and seventh grade scores lagged below the state averages in all subjects.

The percentage of eighth graders placing proficiently in math rose seven points from last year.

Other areas of improvement include the percentage of students in all grades scoring Advanced or Proficient in science and technology rose from 36 to 45 percent, and the percentage of students in all grades scoring Advanced in science and technology rose from four to 11 percent.

Shaver-Hood, who joined the Wareham system as superintendent in the summer of 2013, said MCAS results provide one source of data, but that the schools also make use of other data when planning for the rest of the year and the future.

“I am pleased to recognize the hard work of both our students, teachers and staff, as we continue to provide a quality education for Wareham students,” she said.