UP EDUCATION NETWORK ANNOUNCES 10+ YEARS IN, STILL ACHIEVING TRANSFORMATIVE RESULTS FOR STUDENTS
Students at UP Schools Defy MCAS Trends; 8th Graders at UP Academy Dorchester among fastest growing in the state
BOSTON – October 3, 2024 –– UP Education Network, a school success organization that partners with school districts, families, and staff to create excepti onal schools for students systemically furthest from opportunity, is proud to announce that UP students are among the fastest-growing students in the state according to the 2023-2024 MCAS results. Both proficiency and growth are trending upwards, defying statewide trends of stagnation and decline. Importantly, the latest results indicate that UP’s 8th graders are graduating prepared to thrive in high school with achievement levels in line with the state average and growth at the top of the state.
Student growth percentile for UP students was higher than Boston Public Schools, other turnaround districts, and nearly all other schools in the state serving similar demographics. UP Academy Holland and UP Academy Dorchester are fast becoming among the best options for families in Dorchester as both are placed in the top five schools in the neighborhood for growth in both ELA and math.
8th graders at UP Academy Dorchester ranked #1 in the state for growth among schools serving a high-needs population , and ranked #2 among all Boston Public Schools for growth in both ELA and math. In addition, 2 40% of UP 8th graders met or exceeded proficiency in ELA, a rate that far outpaces their district peers (BPS average for 8th grade was 25% M&E) and nearly ties the state average (43% M&E). UP Academy Dorchester also saw major gains in science, just two years into increasing their focus on STEM subjects and programming, with 5th graders increasing proficiency by 15.2% year over year and 8th graders increasing science proficiency by 12% year over year.
UP Academy Holland and UP Academy Dorchester, both public schools within the Boston Public School system that are managed by UP Education Network, serve approximately 1,300 students in preK to 8th grade. 93% and 94.5%, respectively, of students at UP Academy Holland and UP Academy Dorchester are designated “high needs” by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), over 90% of students at each school identify as Hispanic or African American, and between 37% and 42% of the school populations are designated as English Language Learners.
“We know that education can help a child lead a life of purpose and freedom, or it can limit life outcomes. We know that for too many children education is a barrier - it fails them. UP exists to ensure that the most underserved children have an excellent school in their community. Our students are capable of anything they set their minds to, and I am so proud of their hard work, and that of our educators,” shared UP Education Network’s CEO, Hillary Casson. When asked why UP schools were defying the trends, Casson explained, “Simply, we have an unwavering belief that our students can and will achieve at high levels and we support them to get there through getting to know them as people and learners.”
ABOUT UP EDUCATION NETWORK
About UP Education Network UP Education Network is a nonprofit organization in Massachusetts that partners with school districts, families, and staff to create exceptional schools for students who are systemically furthest from opportunity. UP graduates are academically and socially prepared to excel in and graduate from a competitive high school and in the path of their choosing. UP serves more than 1,300 scholars across two campuses in Boston, MA.
To learn more about UP, visit our website: www.upeducationnetwork.org, watch our most recent video or follow us on Instagram and Facebook,
Contact
Michael Bower
Chief Operating Officer mbower@upeducationnetwork.org
