Assessment/MCAS

Weymouth Public Schools uses classroom work, teacher assessments, and statewide assessments to understand student learning and plan instruction. The Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) is one part of that picture. It measures how students are progressing toward Massachusetts learning standards, but does not tell the whole story of a student’s strengths or growth.

Which MCAS tests do students take, and when?

Grade	Statewide MCAS Assessments
K-2	No MCAS tests
3-4	English Language Arts (ELA) and Math
5	ELA, Math, and Science and Technology/Engineering (STE)
6-7	ELA and Math
8	ELA, Math, STE, and Civics
High School	ELA and Math in Grade 10; STE in Grade 9 or 10

Elementary School

Students begin taking MCAS in grade 3. In grades 3-5, they take English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics assessments; grade 5 students also take Science and Technology/Engineering (STE). Teachers use the results alongside classroom work and other information to identify strengths and areas where a student may need support. MCAS scores do not determine whether a student moves to the next grade.

Middle School

Students in grades 6-8 take ELA and Math MCAS assessments. Grade 8 students also take STE and Civics. The grade 8 Civics assessment has two parts: a performance task and an end-of-course test; at Chapman, this includes an end-of-year Civics Fair in which students research and present a project. Together, they give students opportunities to apply what they have learned about government and civic life. As at every grade level, MCAS results are considered alongside a student’s coursework and other measures of learning.

High School

High school students take MCAS in ELA and Math in grade 10 and a STE assessment, generally in grade 9 or 10 depending on their 9th grade science placement. These statewide tests continue to be administered and provide information about student learning and school performance.

A passing MCAS score is no longer required to earn a Massachusetts high school diploma. Students must still meet the state’s Competency Determination requirements through qualifying coursework, as well as Weymouth Public Schools’ local graduation requirements. Students and families should consult Weymouth High School’s current graduation requirements and speak with their school counselor about an individual student’s progress toward graduation.

It is important to note that MCAS remains a requirement under both state and federal law, and students cannot opt out. The assessment will also continue to be used to determine eligibility for the Adams Scholarship and Koplik Awards.

Testing, Accessibility, and Results

Schools share their specific testing dates with families before testing begins. MCAS tests are generally taken on a computer and include different kinds of questions. Accessibility features and accommodations are available for students who need them. After results become available, the district shares individual student reports with families. Your child’s teacher or school counselor can help you understand the results in the context of their learning throughout the year. Individual student results are not published publicly.

New in 2026: MCAS Family Portal

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has released a new family portal in order for families to view their children’s MCAS scores. This applies to any student who has taken a standard online MCAS test (in school year 2026-27, this means grades 4 and higher).

Preliminary MCAS results from spring 2026 are available. You will also see your student’s results from past years (2023–2025), if available. The Family Portal will be updated in September when final results are ready.

How to Get Started:

Go to https://mcasfamilyportal.emetric.net.

To create an account, you will need

• Your student’s registration code (located in Aspen Family Portal) and
• Your student’s date of birth

To access the portal, you will need your student’s registration code. The code is listed in Aspen on the ‘Student Detail’ page, under ‘Demographics’. Once you have your student’s registration code, please go to the DESE Family Portal Site.

Additional information can be found in the Quick Start Guide: www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/family-portal, which shows you step by step how to create an account, add your student to your account, and view your student’s test results.

If you have any questions or need help, please reach out to your school administrator.