Gaps Seen In Worcester Students Returning To Classrooms Full-Time

WORCESTER, MA — Thousands of Worcester Public Schools (WPS) students returned to classrooms full-time on Monday for the first time in a year, but a new report shows demographic gaps between those students and students who will continue with remote learning.

According to the Worcester Regional Research Bureau (WRRB) report, 78 percent of white students opted to return to classrooms full-time, the highest share of the major demographic groups. About 75 percent of Black students returned to classrooms, while 62 percent of Asian and 67 percent of Hispanic students opted to return.

The report also found that Worcester schools with higher rates of poorer students had lower rates of students returning to class.

"Schools where less than 50 percent of students are economically disadvantaged have an in-person opt-in rate of 81 percent, while those where more than 50 percent of students are economically disadvantaged have a 66 percent rate," the report said.

West Tatnuck Elementary School, which is about 52 percent white, had the highest share of students returning to in-person learning of any school in Worcester. The schools with the lowest in-person opt-in rates were in central Worcester, and included Worcester East Middle School (51 percent), Claremont Academy (52 percent) and Belmont Street Community School (54 percent).

The WRRB report does not include data for Worcester high schools — students in grades 9 to 12 are still in a hybrid learning format. Earlier this winter, the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education required districts to return middle and elementary students to full in-person learning. Worcester received a waiver to delay in-person learning until May 3.

DESE has set a deadline of May 17 for high school students to return to full in-person learning, but districts have until May 10 to request a waiver.