The Newtonite

Mixed reactions to MCAS vote: relief, concern, and uncertainty

Kendall Swint, News Editor • February 5, 2025

Sophomores taking the ELA MCAS this March will be the first to complete the test without the pressure of passing being a graduation requirement. According to the New York Times, 59 percent of voters...

Massachusetts voters decide future of MCAS testing

Emily Nie, News editor • November 2, 2024

Students may no longer be required to pass the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) in order to graduate after Massachusetts voters decide Tuesday, Nov. 5, on the state ballot’s Question...

Massachusetts Board of Education meets at North

Sophie Murthy • May 16, 2019

The Massachusetts Board of Education met in the auditorium Tuesday, April 23. The April or May meeting is traditionally held at the student representative’s school. This is the first time the Board...

Students and teachers react to removed MCAS question

Sophie Murthy • May 1, 2019

Many sophomore English teachers at North chose to have an in-class discussion about an essay question on the Grade 10 ELA MCAS, which received many complaints for being insensitive and inappropriate....

State officials to blend MCAS, PARCC in disputed MCAS 2.0

Emily Moss • January 25, 2016

by Emily Moss In November, the Massachusetts Board of Education voted to change the course of standardized testing with a new assessment, unofficially known as “MCAS 2.0,” which will eventually become...

Column: Newton lags behind "less testing, more learning" movement

The Newtonite • October 22, 2015

by Isabel Joyce At the end of last year, many teachers wore yellow pins with the motto “less testing, more learning” etched in red and blue into the shiny plastic frame. Despite the limited knowledge...

Breaking News: School start time during MCAS testing changed

The Newtonite • January 8, 2015

by Jake Sims Speyer Beginning this spring, students not testing will remain home for the morning of ELA, Mathematics, and Physics MCAS testing days. However, specific classes, such as AP courses, may still...

Cartoon: MCAS

The Newtonite • March 18, 2014

After long hours of preparation, some questions can seem . . .

State secretary of education tours school

The Newtonite • January 15, 2013

by Perrin Stein “If it weren’t for people like campus aide and coach John Staulo and English teacher Peter Capodilupo and for the amazing drafting program in Career and Technical Vocational Education, I would not be where I am today,” said secretary of education for the State Matt Malone ’88.

Column: State test interrupts curriculum flow, sets unfair standards

The Newtonite • March 22, 2012

by Connor Vasu Seven days out of the school year are taken up by the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System, a state-mandated standardized test we are all familiar with. These days can be torture for those taking the test, and they also interrupt the schedule.

Students comment on State's standardized test

The Newtonite • March 21, 2012

by Julia Moss In elementary school and middle school, it was unanimous: we all disliked the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (secretly referred to by rebellious third graders as the Massachusetts Child Abuse System) more than just about anything.

Junior Mike Safran identifies 10th grade math MCAS scoring error

The Newtonite • October 1, 2011

by Samantha Libraty Junior Mike Safran found a scoring error in the 2011 10th grade mathematics MCAS which has affected a multitude of test-takers.

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