Following the state-wide release of MCAS standardized test scores and school district’s accountability data, BPS showed a largely middling performance in both areas.

“Boston’s data showed that the district’s (MCAS) performance remains largely unchanged following the decline in performance due to the pandemic,” Superintendent Mary Skipper presented to the Boston School Committee on Wednesday night. “This is similar to the trends that we see at the state level and other large urban districts around the nation.

“In the state’s accountability system, the district was deemed to be making moderate progress toward targets and was not identified as requiring assistance or intervention,” she continued. The state’s accountability system ranks school based on metrics like MCAS scores, high school graduation, English learner proficiency, chronic absenteeism and more.

BPS MCAS results across grade levels showed a drop in English/language arts (ELA) scores and relatively unchanged math and science scores from 2023, mirroring statewide results released Tuesday.

Last year, BPS leaders said the 2023 MCAS results showed slight improvement but said the district needed to “accelerate progress” to make up for the pandemic plunge, a goal broadly not born out by the 2024 results.

The ELA decline in BPS hit tenth grade hardest, with scores dropping 5% to 42% meeting or exceeding expectations. The tenth grade students also saw a larger decrease in math at 2%, with 38% meeting the standard, and a 1% increase in science, reaching 34%.

The district remains well behind the statewide average MCAS scores and BPS pre-pandemic scores in every subject for older and younger student groups.

However, BPS officials noted some wins, including significant increases in average ELA and math scores for the lowest-performing student group and fourth grade’s average math score returning to pre-pandemic levels.

Among state accountability targets, BPS performed well in terms of chronic absenteeism, which is qualified as missing 10% or more of school days in a years. The district exceeded targets for reducing chronic absenteeism in non-high school grades and met the targets set for high schools.

In a brief overview of accountability data, Skipper also said she was “encouraged” by the chronic absenteeism reduction and “steady progress” in high school students reaching English language proficiency.

Three BPS schools were named schools of recognition by DESE for meeting their targets and demonstrating high achievement and growth: Curtis Guild Elementary in East Boston, Alighieri Montessori School in East Boston, and the Fenway High School in Mission Hill.

BPS leadership will give a full report on MCAS and accountability data at the School Committee meeting on Oct. 9.

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The superintendent also gave a brief update on bus transportation issues Wednesday, saying the district has seen “consistent, steady improvements” in on-time bus performance. As of Wednesday, she said, 84% of the buses arrived on time, 96% arrived within 15 minutes late, and 99% arrived within 30 minutes.

Following updates last week, Skipper said, morning trips have “done a lot of correction” and afternoon trips have shifted to be the bigger issue. She also encourage BPS families to download the Zum app for tracking their child’s bus, noting only about 70% of students’ families have so far.

“Our goal is to ensure that all students arrive at school safely and on time every day,” Skipper said. “And we’re committed to this work, and we’ll continue to provide updates to the community as we have the last two weeks.”