Austin ISD midyear academic data shows small improvements in middle school reading, math scores

The Austin ISD school board reviewed middle school academic progress data at a regular meeting Feb. 24.

At the beginning of this school year, AISD middle school students completed Measures of Academic Progress—or MAP Growth—assessments, which are tests based on adaptive technology that track individual student growth throughout the school year.

A comparison of MAP Growth scores from the beginning of the year to midyear scores revealed small increases in the number of students who met grade level standards. Gains were seen among economically disadvantaged Black and white students in reading, with an increase from 20% to 21% meeting grade level. Economically disadvantaged Black students meeting grade level in math increased from 10% to 12%, and economically disadvantaged Hispanic students meeting grade level in math increased from 12% to 13%.

MAP Growth scores also track individual student academic growth, focusing on the difference between students' test results at different points in the year and the progress made between assessments.

“While we’re not seeing a lot of growth in absolute achievement, in the amount of students who met their growth target, 48% of students met overall reading growth targets, and 46% of economically disadvantaged students met their reading targets,” Chief of Academics Elizabeth Casas said at the meeting.

Part of the district’s five-year scorecard involves increasing the percentage of middle school students that meet reading and math grade level standards to 60% by August 2026.

“We believe that if we continue to make the kind of growth from the beginning of the year to the middle of the year, we will be on track moving forward,” Casas said.

The 2021-22 school year is the first time AISD has used MAP Growth assessments to track student progress.

Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde praised district teachers for the individual attention they provide students to foster growth.

“We’re not going to get to absolute achievement overnight,” Elizalde said. “Each journey begins with a step at a time.”