WORCESTER, MA — Worcester Public Schools kept its overall state classification this year, but the results give families a mixed picture: four elementary schools earned recognition for their progress, while grade 10 test scores declined.
The 2026 state accountability report classifies the district as “not requiring assistance or intervention” and making “moderate progress toward targets.” Its cumulative progress measure was 46%. The rating draws on several measures, including test performance, student growth, graduation and attendance; it does not mean every school or grade performed the same way.
According to a Sept. 22 district release, 31 of the 44 Worcester schools that received classifications were designated as not requiring assistance or intervention. The other 13 were classified as requiring assistance or intervention.
Columbus Park, Francis McGrath, Midland Street and Worcester Arts Magnet elementary schools were named Schools of Recognition, the district said. Among schools meeting at least three-quarters of their annual progress targets, Columbus Park reached 98% and Worcester Arts Magnet reached 90%. These figures measure progress toward each school’s targets, not the percentage of students meeting grade-level expectations.
Grade 10 scores fell
The clearest decline in the district’s summary was in grade 10. The share of students meeting or exceeding expectations in English language arts fell from 33% in 2025 to 26% in 2026. In math, it fell from 24% to 20%, according to the district release and DESE’s year-by-year results.
Across grades 3 through 8, 25% of students met or exceeded expectations in English language arts, compared with 26% the year before. The math figure remained at 24%, the district said.
“State testing gives us one piece of the picture,” Superintendent Brian E. Allen said in the release. He said the district would examine where its academic strategies are working and where students need more support.
Attendance remains a concern
High school chronic absenteeism was 34.4%, compared with 34.1% the year before, according to the state report. The rate for non-high school grades edged down from 18.8% to 18.5%. Both 2026 figures were above the state targets listed for Worcester.
The district reported that its four-year graduation rate remained at about 86%, below the statewide average of 89%. Its dropout rate remained at 2%. The share of high school students completing advanced coursework rose from about 52% to 54%.
Results for English learners also differed by grade level. The state report shows that the rate of progress toward English language proficiency rose from 43.2% to 49.8% in non-high school grades, exceeding Worcester’s target. At the high school level, it fell from 19.9% to 17.2%.
Families can review Worcester’s full accountability report and look up results for individual schools through the state accountability site. The district release did not identify the 13 schools requiring assistance or intervention or specify what additional support each will receive.
W.U.W. Verification Box
- Project / Topic: 2026 Worcester Public Schools accountability results.
- Current Status: The district is classified as not requiring assistance or intervention and making moderate progress toward targets.
- Key Dates or Decisions: DESE updated the data Sept. 22, 2026.
- Estimated Cost: No cost was provided in the district release or the accountability report.
- Timeline: The results cover the 2025–26 school year.
- Immediate Next Steps: Families can review district and individual school results; WUW will seek details on support for the 13 schools requiring assistance or intervention.
- Primary Sources: Worcester Public Schools’ Sept. 22 press release; DESE’s Worcester accountability report; DESE’s MCAS comparisons.
- What We Do Not Yet Know: The district release does not explain what specific steps WPS will take in response to the grade 10 declines or identify the 13 schools requiring assistance or intervention.
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