August 27th, 2019 by WCBC Radio

Results of the 2019 Maryland State assessments in English/Language Arts and math were released today, and Allegany County boasted several highlights. The ACPS proficiency rate was above the state average in fourteen of the seventeen tested areas. Students that are economically disadvantaged showed growth in proficiency, decreasing the performance gap between them and their counterpart. Additionally, students with disabilities showed improvement toward proficiency in most tested areas, but will continue to be an area of focus.

“I am very proud of our students and their teachers for their progress,” said Dr. Kim Kalbaugh, ACPS Chief Academic Officer.  “I am also very proud of the leadership shown by the school-based administrators and central office instructional supervisors in leading the work of continuous school improvement.”

  Dr. Kalbaugh continued, “These are very rigorous assessments.  Although we are pleased with the progress, we also recognize that we still have a lot of work ahead to ensure that all of our students are meeting these high expectations.”

            Maryland assessments are scored on a 650 to 850 point scale, which is divided into five performance levels, with level 1 set as not meeting expectations and level 5 set as exceeding expectations. The Maryland State Board of Education considers performance level 4 or 5 ‘proficient’ on the assessment.

Dr. Kalbaugh went on to say, “We will continue to put forth a determined effort across the district to ensure a coherent vision for equity and academic achievement for our students.  A thorough analysis of the data will help inform the instructional practices and strategies that will be used to accelerate academic achievement even more.”

Other ACPS highlights of the 2018-2019 Maryland assessment results are as follows:

 

Elementary Highlights

• The ACPS proficiency rate is above the state average at all grade levels for English Language Arts (ELA), math, and science assessments.
• Grade 5 ELA performed 10.7% above the state average. 
• Grade 4 Math performed 9.8% above the state average.
• Grade 3 showed the most significant growth in both ELA and Math. ELA proficient scores rose 4% from the previous year, while math rose 5.9%. 
• Ten of fourteen elementary schools showed growth in Grade 3 Math. 
• Parkside and Flintstone Elementary Schools showed growth in ELA for all grade levels tested as well as two of three grade levels in math. 
• Beall Elementary and Mt. Savage Middle showed growth in all grade levels tested in math. 
• Frost Elementary’s proficiency rate is above 70% in five of six tested areas. 
• Cash Valley Elementary Grade 5’s proficiency rate is above 70% in both ELA and math. 

 

Middle School Highlights

• ACPS is above the state average at all grade levels for ELA and six of seven tested areas of math.
• Grade 6 ELA proficiency increased 12.2%, which is 7% above the state average, and Grade 8 ELA increased 9.5%.
• Grade 7 Math performed 10.6% above the state average, while Algebra I results are 10.1% above the state average.
• Braddock and Washington Middle Schools scored above 90% in Algebra I. 
• Braddock and Mt. Savage Middle Schools showed growth in ELA for all tested grade levels.
• All four middle schools showed growth in the Maryland Integrated Science Assessment.

 

High School Highlights

• ACPS is above the state average in ELA and Algebra. 
• The ELA proficiency rate increased to 53.2%, which is a 7.9% higher than the previous year.
• The Government proficiency rate increased by 4%.
• Mountain Ridge High showed growth in all three tested areas – ELA, Algebra, and Government. 

 

Scores on the assessments are used for school system and school-level accountability purposes as part of Maryland’s Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) plan. Several other academic and non-academic indicators are included in the State Report Card’s school score, which will be updated later this year.

The 2018-2019 school year was the final year that state assessments utilized materials developed by the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Career (PARCC).  Beginning with the 2019-2020 school year, students will be assessed under the new Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP).  The MCAP assessments will focus on the same academic content standards in ELA and Math as in previous years, but with new items developed by Maryland educators. These assessments are designed to provide students, parents, and teachers with an understanding of student progress toward graduation and workforce readiness.