Bad MCAS news for Waltham schools

My post yesterday about school choice preceded an article about problems in Waltham schools. Waltham MCAS scores are down, writes Carrie Simmons of the Daily News Tribune. I am particularly concerned about the elementary school results for 4th grade

... The percentage of fourth-grade students who achieved either advanced or proficient scores in English fell 13 percent to 46 percent. Statewide results showed a 6 percent drop in the number of fourth-graders scoring proficient or higher in English. Advanced and proficient math scores for the fourth grade also dropped 10 percent to 30 percent, while the percentage of third-grade students achieving proficiency in reading dropped 4 percent to 53 percent. There is no advanced performance level for third graders.

That's not good. Like many other Waltham residents, we have young kids, and want the best possible learning environment for them. If scores are down in the elementary schools, and similar drops are not apparent elsewhere in Massachusetts, something is wrong and needs to be fixed.