Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) students improved in English/Language Arts (ELA) on the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) assessments in 2019. The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) released local school system and school-level data today for PARCC, Maryland’s school assessments in ELA and mathematics.
Students in grades three through 10 take the state assessment in ELA. Results show progress in grades five through 10, and grades three and four declined slightly. Results for mathematics varied by test, and declined statewide. MSDE is placing an emphasis on analyzing math results due to decreases statewide in the percent of students scoring at a performance level of 4 or 5. “Analyzing assessment results and continuously monitoring students’ performance is an important step towards improvement,” said State Superintendent of Schools Karen Salmon.
“Our teachers are focused on teaching the Maryland State Standards in an authentic and engaging way. We use assessment data to continue to improve instruction and student performance,” Superintendent Kimberly Hill said. “While we continue to make progress on the state assessments, we are not where we need or want to be,” she said. The school system is looking for ways to improve math instruction and provide students more access to certificated math teachers, which are in high demand across the state. CCPS is piloting a virtual middle school math class as one possible enhancement.
Highlights of the 2018-19 Maryland assessment results include:
Individual student reports are available on ParentVue. Parents who do not have access to ParentVue should contact their child’s school. The 2018-2019 school year was the final year that state assessments used materials developed by PARCC.
Beginning this school year, students will be assessed under the new Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP). MCAP assessments will focus on the same academic content standards in ELA and math, but with new items developed by Maryland educators. The assessments are designed to provide students, parents and teachers with an understanding of student progress toward graduation and workforce readiness.
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. Performance Level 4 or 5 is considered “proficient” on the assessment by the Maryland State Board of Education.
About CCPS
Charles County Public Schools provides 27,108 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 37 schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive and high quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and prepares students for life, careers and higher education.
The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Kathy Kiessling, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (students) or Nikial M. Majors, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 coordinator (employees/ adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646; 301-932-6610/301-870-3814. For special accommodations call 301-934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event.
Students in grades three through 10 take the state assessment in ELA. Results show progress in grades five through 10, and grades three and four declined slightly. Results for mathematics varied by test, and declined statewide. MSDE is placing an emphasis on analyzing math results due to decreases statewide in the percent of students scoring at a performance level of 4 or 5. “Analyzing assessment results and continuously monitoring students’ performance is an important step towards improvement,” said State Superintendent of Schools Karen Salmon.
“Our teachers are focused on teaching the Maryland State Standards in an authentic and engaging way. We use assessment data to continue to improve instruction and student performance,” Superintendent Kimberly Hill said. “While we continue to make progress on the state assessments, we are not where we need or want to be,” she said. The school system is looking for ways to improve math instruction and provide students more access to certificated math teachers, which are in high demand across the state. CCPS is piloting a virtual middle school math class as one possible enhancement.
Highlights of the 2018-19 Maryland assessment results include:
- Since the first PARCC assessments in 2015, CCPS student performance has improved significantly in ELA. The biggest gains have come in Grade 7, which posted a 15.2-point improvement and Grade 10 with an 18.3-point increase. All grades have improved beyond state increases since 2015. Math scores for both CCPS and Maryland have either remained about the same or slightly declined.
- Grade 10 ELA scores went up five points to 49.8.
- Samuel A. Mudd Elementary School increased 27 points in Grade 4 reading, and 32 points in Grade 4 math.
- Hope/Nanjemoy Elementary School went up six points in Grade 5 ELA and eight points in Grade 3 math.
- Theodore G. Davis Middle School students, for the third consecutive year, had a 100 percent Algebra I pass rate.
- Westlake High School’s Grade 10 ELA scores increased 25.9 points from 2018.
- Benjamin Stoddert Middle School increased its Algebra I score by 11.3 points, rising to 84 percent.
Individual student reports are available on ParentVue. Parents who do not have access to ParentVue should contact their child’s school. The 2018-2019 school year was the final year that state assessments used materials developed by PARCC.
Beginning this school year, students will be assessed under the new Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP). MCAP assessments will focus on the same academic content standards in ELA and math, but with new items developed by Maryland educators. The assessments are designed to provide students, parents and teachers with an understanding of student progress toward graduation and workforce readiness.
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. Performance Level 4 or 5 is considered “proficient” on the assessment by the Maryland State Board of Education.
About CCPS
Charles County Public Schools provides 27,108 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 37 schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive and high quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and prepares students for life, careers and higher education.
The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Kathy Kiessling, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (students) or Nikial M. Majors, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 coordinator (employees/ adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646; 301-932-6610/301-870-3814. For special accommodations call 301-934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event.