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Cambridge students’ scores on the 2024-25 Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System exam improved, but a closer look reveals deep inequities — with the achievement gap across racial and socioeconomic lines widening from last year.
Across grades three through eight, 58 percent of students in the district met or exceeded expectations on the English Language Arts test, an increase in three percentage points from 2024. And for the math section, 56 percent of students demonstrated proficiency, a two percentage point increase.
But these results don’t tell the whole story. The gap between the percentage of Black and white students meeting or exceeding expectations reached 46 percent this year for ELA, an increase of 3. The gap grew by 6 points in math, to a 49 percent difference — with Black students being the only racial group to drop in math proficiency.
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“The persistent achievement gaps evident among demographics across Massachusetts, Cambridge included, are deeply frustrating and completely unacceptable,” interim superintendent David G. Murphy wrote in an emailed statement to The Crimson.
“I do not believe there is a magic formula or a flashy new initiative that can ensure all students receive equitable experiences that position them for post-secondary success. But addressing these challenges are the only way to fully realize the true vision of public education,” he wrote.
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The district is wrapping up its yearlong superintendent search, with the School Committee’s vote slated for Monday. During final interviews, School Committee members pressed finalists — including Murphy — on how they would eliminate district achievement gaps. And in the upcoming November School Committee election, improving academic equity has been an important talking piece for nearly all 18 candidates.
A Tuesday CPS press release highlighted that the district outperformed the state average across all grades and subjects, and that Cambridge was among 41 districts recognized for progress in math at a Monday event held by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
“The most important takeaway from my perspective is that it’s evidence that we have very strong teaching and learning taking place within our school communities,” Murphy said in a Thursday interview with The Crimson.
“That is a credit to our teachers and staff and school leaders, because the amount of positive data points that we have would not be possible were it not for a lot of hard work on part of educators,” he added.
Even as overall scores improved this year, low-income students further lagged behind their peers.
Across the district, 75 percent of non-low income students are meeting math proficiency, compared to only 26 percent of low income students, the same portion as in 2024, representing a three percentage point increase in the gap. Similarly, the ELA score gap widened by one percentage point — despite a two percentage point improvement in low income students’ scores.
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School Committee member Elizabeth C.P. Hudson said that the district should better utilize its $280 million budget to support these students, noting that at the Cambridge Street Upper School, only six percent of low income students are at grade level for math.
“We have a shit ton of money and we still have a school where we have, again, 6 percent of low income kids who are working at or above grade level,” she said.
“That is a scandal. That is embarrassing. We do a lot of stupid shit every day, but that is a sideshow as compared to this number,” she added.
Murphy wrote that addressing the growing gaps in the district will “require fidelity to high standards, an improved professional culture and better execution of sound instructional strategies on the part of school systems and individual school communities.”
“Shifting our culture from one that focuses on adult interests to student interests will not be easy, and it will not happen overnight. But it is the only way for us to end this cycle and bring an end to this tragic and tired story,” he added.
—Staff writer Ayaan Ahmad can be reached at ayaan.ahmad@thecrimson.com. Follow him on X @AyaanAhmad2024.
—Staff writer Claire A. Michal can be reached at claire.michal@thecrimson.com.
