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The student news site of Westford Academy

WA Ghostwriter

The student news site of Westford Academy

WA Ghostwriter

The student news site of Westford Academy

WA Ghostwriter

Soundbytes: should MCAS be a graduation requirement?

Soundbytes: should MCAS be a graduation requirement?

Aarshia Bhattacharyya, News Editor Feb 13, 2025

The Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) was designed as a standard of education in Massachusetts when it was created in 1993. However, on Nov. 6, 2024, Massachusetts voters removed MCAS as a graduation requirement. Discussions have begun in Westford on whether or not the school district...

Stony Brook Middle School in Westford, MA.

Civics MCAS officially introduced to Westford middle schools

James McDermott, Co- Sports Editor Dec 11, 2023

Beginning in 2025, a civics MCAS will be required statewide for eighth grade students. Westford Public Schools has officially introduced civics MCAS at the middle school level after years of developing a test to further comply with Massachusetts’s expanding civics education requirements.  The introduction...

Assistant Superintendent Kerry Clery discusses coronavirus updates at the School Committee Meeting.

School Committee Meeting addresses coronavirus matters

Mahi Kandage, Editor-in-Chief Mar 10, 2020

In light of the recent spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus) across the world, the School Committee Meeting met on Monday March 9 to address concerns regarding the impacts of the disease in Westford. In the absence of Superintendent Bill Olsen, Assistant Superintendent Kerry Clery gave a statement and answered...

MCAS testing disturbed due to Internet outage

MCAS testing disturbed due to Internet outage

Divya Sambathkumar, Staff Writer Mar 26, 2019

On Tuesday March 26, Westford Academy sophomores were unable to finish session one of the English MCAS exam, due to an unexpected Internet outage that occurred throughout Westford. There were Internet connectivity problems all over the town, affecting other schools, the police and fire department, as...

Students take a test in class.

MCAS 2.0 slated for 2017 implementation

Kai-Lou Yue, Editor-In-Chief Nov 30, 2015

Last school year, students in grades three through eight took the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) test in place of the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS). This was supposed to prepare students for the likely permanent implementation of PARCC in...

New test might be PARCCing at WA

Feb 4, 2014
The MCAS is an unavoidable occurrence for students in all Massachusetts public school systems, including Westford. However, that may change with the integration of a new assessment into Massachusetts schools over the next few years.

An unnecessary test change

Feb 4, 2014

By Kai-Lou Yue Business Manager This year in the spring of 2014, Massachusetts is requiring some public schools to hold field testing for the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC), a test that will likely replace the MCAS in the state. If all goes as planned, in...