Woburn School Report Card: Absenteeism Skyrocketed In 2021

WOBURN, MA — State report cards for the 2020-2021 school year show Woburn schools outperformed state averages on many metrics, but MCAS perforamnce was more typical and attendance fell dramatically in Woburn.

The district report card and report cards for each school are available here.

The Department of Elementary and Secondary education made no accountability determinations for the 2020-2021 school year, but the report cards include enrollment, MCAS scores and more. According to the district report card, Woburn schools outperformed most of the state on many metrics, but in MCAS scores Woburn students performed around the state averages and showed typical year-over-year progress.

On the 0-100 student progress scale, with higher numbers meaning more progress, Woburn scored 36.2 on Grade 3-8 English language arts, 32.8 on Grade 3-8 math, 59.4 on Grade 10 English and 33.3 on Grade 10 math.

Still, Woburn scored well on most metrics. In measures including college attendance, access to the arts, MassCore completion and more, Woburn outperformed the state. Every Woburn high school graduate completed the MassCore requirements, versus 83 percent statewide.

Like at schools around the country, the 2020-2021 school year looked fairly different in Woburn than pre-pandemic years. Enrollment fell nearly 4 percent from 2020 to 2021 in Woburn and next-year college attendance fell about 15 percent.

Attendance fell even more dramatically in Woburn as it did in many districts. Chronic absenteeism rose from 11.7 percent to 25 percent of students from 2020 to 2021, whereas statewide it rose from 13 percent to 17.7.

Woburn spent $17,575 per student in 2020, down slightly from $17,115 in 2019. Statewide, per-student spending rose slightly.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or [email protected].