While we get distracted with flags and books in public schools, the thing we should be focused on (my opinion) is the actual performance of students in Carroll County Public Schools.
The 2022-2023 MCAP scores were presented to the Board of Education on September 13, 2023. Here is a look at the scores and some opinions/analysis of the data:
English Language Arts Grade 3-8 Assessments by LEA, SY 2022-2023: CCPS proficiency in ELA grades 3-8 is 64%
Statewide, 47% of students are proficient in ELA grade 3-8 tests. LEAs vary from a low of 25% to a high of 68% in the student proficiency rate. Twenty-three of 24 LEAs improved from SY 2021-2022 to SY 2022-2023.
Opinion/Analysis: It is good to see that Carroll County had the 2nd highest scores in the state and the highest scores in our region. It is hard to be super excited about 64% proficiency rate but at more than 17 points higher than the state average we can be somewhat satisfied with these scores.
English 10 Assessment by LEA, SY 2022-2023: CCPS proficiency in English 10 is 68%
Statewide, the percentage of students scoring proficient on the English 10 test was 54% for SY 2022-2023. LEAs vary from a low of 31% to a high of 82% in proficiency percentage. Eighteen LEAs improved from SY 2021-2022 when comparing to SY 2022-2023 results.
Opinion/Analysis: Carroll ranks 4th best in the state and 2nd best in our region (behind Frederick County). Again, it is hard to be super excited about 68% proficiency rate but with a rate 14 points higher than the state average we can be somewhat satisfied with these scores.
Mathematics Grade 3-8 Assessments by LEA, SY 2022-2023: CCPS proficiency in Math Grades 3-8 is 40%
Statewide, the percentage of students scoring proficient on math grade 3-8 tests was 25% for SY 2022-2023. LEAs vary from a low of 9% to a high of 47% in proficiency percentage. Every LEA improved when comparing SY 2021-2022 to SY 2022-2023 results.
Opinion/Analysis: Carroll County has the 2nd best scores in the state and highest scores in our region. That being said…40% proficiency rate is not a good number by any metric (even if our area is 15 points higher than the state average).
Algebra I Assessment by LEA, SY 2022-2023: CCPS proficiency in Algebra I is 22%
Statewide, the percentage of students scoring proficient on the Algebra I test was 17% for SY 2022-2023. LEAs vary from a low of 6% to a high of 38% in proficiency percentage. Twenty-three LEAs improved when comparing SY 2021-2022 to SY 2022-2023 results.
Opinion/Analysis: If you thought the math proficiency rate was not great, the Algebra scores are REALLY bad. Carroll County ranks 8th (tied with Montgomery County) in the state in Algebra scores and we are behind both Frederick County and Howard County in our region. Carroll County is 5 points higher than the state average…but there is no way you can look at these scores and say we are doing anything but poor in this area of study in schools (both locally and across the state).
Science Grade 5 Assessment, SY 2022-2023 Proficiency by LEA: CCPS proficiency in Science Grade 5 is 54.1%
Statewide, the percentage of students scoring proficient on the grade 5 science test was 34.5% for SY 2022-2023. LEAs vary from a low of 11.7% to a high of 54.1% in proficiency percentage. Twenty-two LEAs improved their performance when comparing SY 2021-2022 to SY 2022-2023.
Opinion/Analysis: Carroll County ranked the best in the state of Maryland in this category (that is always a good thing). That being said…is a proficiency rate of 54.1% great…the answer is no. There is a lot of room for improvement with this subject in schools.
Science Grade 8 Assessment, SY 2022-2023 Proficiency by LEA: CCPS proficiency in Science Grade 8 is 36.8%
Statewide, the percentage of students scoring proficient on the grade 8 science test was 26.4% for SY 2022-2023. LEAs vary from a low of 8.7% to a high of 42.0% in proficiency percentage. Twenty-three LEAs experienced a decrease when comparing SY 2021-2022 to SY 2022-2023 results.
Opinion/Analysis: I am not sure what happens between 5th grade and 8th grade as it relates to Science but the numbers fall off pretty significantly. Carroll County ranks 5th in the state and behind Howard County in our region in this subject and grade level. Carroll is a little more than 12 point higher than the state average but no where near high enough to be excited (or even happy) by these scores.
You can read additional details on the data and planned “Next Steps” in the full presentation provided to the BOE back in September here: MCAP 22-23 Board Presentation-FINAL
Have thoughts about these scores (for Carroll County or Statewide)…let me know in the comments here or on social media.
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