Collected through tests held in January, the data from the MAP exams assesses students in grades kindergarten through 10 in reading, mathematics and science.
District officials said MAP results are a good determinate of overall growth and an indicator of projected scores on the standardized STAAR tests in the spring. The testing data also allows teachers to adjust their educational plans to better fit students' progress.
According to the MAP results, 50% of students met their growth projections in math, and 51% met them in reading. Executive Director of Accountability Jacob Cortez said the tests are designed to be met by 50% of students.
“This test is not about achievement, what our students are doing from term to term, but instead about overall growth,” Cortez said.
The largest growth in a grade happened at the kindergarten level, where 24 elementary schools had 60% or more of students meet their growth goal in reading and 28 elementary schools had 60% or more of students meet their fall growth goal in math.
At the third grade level, 23 elementary schools had 50% or more of students meet their growth goal in reading, and 24 elementary schools had 50% or more of students meet their growth goal in math.
In addition, three schools had 50% or more of students meet their growth goal in reading: Richardson West Junior High, Richardson North Junior High and Berkner High School.
RISD also reviewed how students are preparing for the STAAR exams in reading and math, which are scheduled to take place April 18-May 9.
In all tested subjects and grade levels, except for fourth grade reading, projected STAAR performance was similar or exceeded expectations compared to the same time last year, according to the MAP data.
The results were presented to the RISD board of trustees during a March 9 meeting. The MAP tests were given Jan. 9-16, with over 67,000 tests administered.
For more information on the MAP testing results for RISD, click here.
