Introduction

The Cambridge Public Schools (CPS) Benchmarks were developed by principals and central office administrators from standards derived through state testing programs, TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study), the use of standards in other states, and accepted research from experts in the field of education. The benchmark documents are a result of a review of this body of knowledge tempered by the experience of CPS administrators, teachers, and school councils. They will serve as an accountability tool for schools and the district. In addition, the benchmarks will help the community to understand overall student achievement and progress in closing the achievement gap in our city’s schools.

The CPS Benchmarks are comprehensive including primary and secondary indicators of achievement.  Primary indicators are those set by the federal government’s No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act. Primary indicators include a standard of proficiency in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics as measured by MCAS, the Massachusetts state testing program. Secondary indicators include additional academic assessments as well as measures of school climate, family participation / satisfaction, assessments of English Language Learners, Cambridge Rindge and Latin (CRLS) graduation indicators, and competencies for Rindge School of Technical Arts (RSTA).

Benchmarks are determined for schools and the district. They are also determined for subgroups of students in order to measure the extent to which the school/ district has addressed the achievement gap. Students are categorized into subgroups as defined by the NCLB legislation and are compared against the performance of white students in order to measure achievement gaps in the same way that NCLB demands similar comparisons.

The Benchmark reports included in this document represent baseline data for the district and for each school that will serve as a comparison for future years.  Annual Benchmark reports will be used in assessing student outcomes in each school and overall progress of the school system. Individual school benchmarks will be used by the school in annual school improvement planning and by the superintendent as one piece of the evaluation of principals. The district will use district benchmarks to measure: progress in overall student achievement, the extent to which progress is made in closing the achievement gap among subgroups of students, the efficacy of existing programs, and the need for revisions in the district improvement plan.

Related Documents:

• Full Introduction from K-12 Benchmarks of Student and School Achievement, 2004-2005
• Benchmarks Glossary of Terms
• Benchmarks Contributors/Acknowledgments

District Benchmarks

• CPS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BENCHMARKS:
  Grades K-5
• CPS MIDDLE SCHOOL BENCHMARKS:
  Grades 6-8
• CRLS BENCHMARKS:
  Grades 9-12

Benchmarks of Student Achievement by School

Amigos School

• AMIGOS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BENCHMARKS
• AMIGOS MIDDLE SCHOOL BENCHMARKS

Baldwin School

• BALDWIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BENCHMARKS
• BALDWIN MIDDLE SCHOOL BENCHMARKS

Cambridgeport School

• CAMBRIDGEPORT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BENCHMARKS
• CAMBRIDGEPORT MIDDLE SCHOOL BENCHMARKS

Fletcher-Maynard Academy

• FMA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BENCHMARKS
• FMA MIDDLE SCHOOL BENCHMARKS

Graham & Parks Alternative School

• G&P ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BENCHMARKS
• G&P MIDDLE SCHOOL BENCHMARKS

Haggerty School

• HAGGERTY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BENCHMARKS

Kennedy/Longfellow School

• KENNEDY/LONGFELLOW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BENCHMARKS
• KENNEDY/LONGFELLOW MIDDLE SCHOOL BENCHMARKS

King Open School

• KING OPEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BENCHMARKS
• KING OPEN MIDDLE SCHOOL BENCHMARKS

King School

• KING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BENCHMARKS
• KING MIDDLE SCHOOL BENCHMARKS

Morse School

• MORSE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BENCHMARKS
• MORSE MIDDLE SCHOOL BENCHMARKS

Peabody School

• PEABODY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BENCHMARKS
• PEABODY MIDDLE SCHOOL BENCHMARKS

Tobin School

• TOBIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BENCHMARKS
• TOBIN MIDDLE SCHOOL BENCHMARKS