Worcester Public Schools is showing signs of academic progress, but declining high school test scores, persistent absenteeism and uneven achievement among student groups remain challenges as the district works to improve student outcomes. The findings are popping up as part of the agenda for the Worcester School Committee’s Thursday, Oct. 22, meeting, when members review the district’s latest student performance data alongside a report on employee sick-day usage, proposed changes to vocational education policies and the continuing debate over school boundary realignment.
The academic report presents a mixed bag: gains among elementary and middle school students, particularly English learners, contrasted with declining high school achievement in English language arts, math and science. District officials propose adding instructional support, closer monitoring of attendance, and changes to curriculum and professional development.
Meanwhile, a separate report shows that 701 WPS employees recorded at least 15 sick days or family medical absences during the 2025-26 school year, down from the previous year, although the number of employees in the report who were not recorded as having approved medical leaves increased.
Academic gains, but high school performance remains a concern
WPS made incremental gains on several state accountability measures in 2026, according to the superintendent’s presentation, but high school performance remains a significant area of concern.
The district’s overall progress toward state improvement targets stands at 46%, a figure the state classifies as moderate progress. The calculation combines 2025 and 2026 results, weighted at 40% and 60%, respectively. The district met 47% of its annual targets in both 2024 and 2025 and 45% in 2026.
The presentation identifies declines in high school achievement in English language arts, math and science. District officials also report that chronic absenteeism has remained relatively flat in recent years, with particularly high rates among high school students.
Progress toward English language proficiency declined among high school English learners in 2026, while accountability measures for elementary and middle school students with disabilities showed no consistent pattern of improvement or decline.
But there are encouraging results elsewhere in the report. Four Worcester elementary schools—Columbus Park, Francis J. McGrath, Midland Street and Worcester Arts Magnet—earned state Schools of Recognition designations for academic progress.
The district also reported that 14 schools increased their annual progress toward state accountability targets in 2026, compared with six in 2025.
English learners in grades 1 through 8 recorded a third consecutive year of improvement in progress toward English language proficiency. Nearly half of the district’s 4,427 elementary and middle school English learners met their annual targets.
English language arts and math growth among elementary and middle school students also improved for a second consecutive year, according to the presentation. Hispanic/Latino students in those grades maintained or modestly improved upon gains recorded in 2025.
To address the continuing gaps, the administration plans to strengthen instructional support for schools, expand teacher collaboration focused on student performance and introduce new high-quality instructional materials, particularly for secondary-level English learners.
The district also plans to improve oversight of its attendance efforts and implement a new curriculum and staff training plan for special education autism programs.
Staff sick-day report shows shifting patterns
A separate report requested by school committee member Alex Guardiola provides a breakdown of employee sick-day usage during the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years.
The district reports that 701 employees recorded at least 15 sick days or family medical absences in 2025-26, compared with 727 the previous year. The workforce, measured in full-time equivalents, increased from 5,004 to 5,183 during the same period.
The figures include employees who used exactly 15 days as well as those who exceeded that threshold. They also include approved medical leaves.
Among employees in the report, 284 were recorded as having approved medical leaves in 2025-26, compared with 364 the previous year. The number in the report’s separate sick-day category increased from 363 to 417.
Instructional employees accounted for the largest number of staff reaching the 15-day threshold, although their share declined from 14% to 11.4%.
Among paraeducators, the share declined from 17.1% to 14.1%. Cafeteria employees, however, saw an increase from 20.6% to 26.4%, while custodial staff increased from 23.6% to 24.9%.
The report also shows decreases among administrative clerical employees, elementary clerical staff and nurses.
District officials caution that most employees are contractually allotted 15 sick days annually, with unused days accumulating to a maximum of 215. Employees who use more than 15 days in a school year may therefore be drawing on legitimately accrued time rather than exceeding their available benefits.
The report also identifies 229 employees who recorded at least 15 sick days in both school years, including 94 who had approved medical leaves on record.
The findings provide the committee with a more detailed picture of employee attendance patterns across job categories, although the data do not establish why individual employees were absent.
School realignment and vocational education policies
The committee will also receive reports from its Oct. 13 Operations and Governance meetings, including the latest public discussion of Worcester’s proposed school boundary realignment.
The district is considering changes to school assignments and grade configurations as it attempts to make better use of school buildings, accommodate enrollment changes and expand educational opportunities.
The third realignment proposal introduced the possibility of flexible enrollment zones, which could allow the district to assign incoming students to schools based partly on available space. It also raised questions about whether every elementary school could accommodate a prekindergarten classroom.
The district is aiming to reach a final decision on realignment by the end of the calendar year. A fourth public forum is scheduled for Oct. 26 at Forest Grove Middle School.
The committee will also consider proposed revisions to the district’s career technical education admissions policy following unanimous approval by the Operations and Governance Standing Committee.
The policy governs admissions to vocational and technical programs when applications exceed available space. Worcester offers 32 career technical education programs across four high schools: 23 at Worcester Technical High School, four at Doherty Memorial High School, three at South High Community School and two at North High School.
The revisions are intended to bring the district into compliance with state regulations adopted in May 2025. The updated admissions policy would apply to students seeking enrollment beginning in the 2027-28 school year.
A related proposal would update how middle school students learn about career technical education opportunities. The district’s Middle School Pathway Exploration Policy outlines career planning activities, high school information sessions, tours and communication with families.
Under the policy, middle school students can participate in tours of career technical education programs during the school day without receiving unexcused absences, with the district covering transportation costs.
Both proposed policies received 3-0 approval from the standing committee Oct. 13.
Other highlights on the agenda
- Students seek bathroom improvements: A group of eighth-graders at Sullivan Middle School will petition the committee for restroom renovations, citing broken fixtures, inadequate privacy and hygiene concerns. Their petition says some bathrooms have only one or two functioning toilets, leading to long waits and missed instructional time. Students are seeking repairs to sinks, soap dispensers and stall doors, along with improvements to sanitary product dispensers and odor control.
- Special education transportation: The administration is seeking authorization to enter into a five-year lease for 10 special education buses. The vehicles would support the district’s bus replacement schedule and help maintain specialized transportation services.
- Worcester Tech space concerns: A report on the City of Worcester’s Department of Innovation and Technology indicates that no formal plan exists to relocate the department from Worcester Technical High School. City officials are exploring options as part of a potential multiyear process, with the school seeking additional space.
- Student recognition: Burncoat High School senior Konstantin Kibe is scheduled to be recognized for receiving a 2026 Youth Community Change Maker Award during this spring’s Trans Day of Visibility. The recognition honors Kibe’s advocacy on behalf of transgender students.
- Labor negotiations: The committee meets in executive session to discuss contract negotiations involving several Educational Association of Worcester bargaining units and the union representing plumbers, steamfitters and tradespeople.
The Worcester School Committee meets Thursday, Oct. 22, in the Esther Howland Chamber at Worcester City Hall. Executive session begins at 5 p.m., followed by the public meeting at 6 p.m.
The meeting is also be accessible virtually through the Worcester Public Schools Zoom platform at worcesterschools.zoom.us, using webinar ID 827 4644 0670.
