Richardson ISD students improve academic progress test scores at all grade levels

MAP exams are administered three times a year to students in kindergarten to eighth grade. The exams are one of the core metrics that the district uses to gauge how students are progressing, Ortiz said.

“[MAP data] is an integral piece for us to be able to make those decisions for our students and know what interventions they need, and what additional supports or what enrichment they need,” Ortiz said.

All grade levels from kindergarten to eighth grade showed growth from the fall assessments to the end-of-year assessments on the English reading and Spanish reading exam. RISD is also above the national norm expectation for every grade level, Ortiz said.

Ortiz highlighted that all of the district’s subgroups, including economically disadvantaged, emergent bilingual and special education students, also showed growth from the fall to spring exam.

The math exams also showed growth from the fall to spring assessment in all grades, with every grade level except eighth grade at or above the national norms. Ortiz noted that RISD is an algebra for all district, which means the eighth-grade math results include only 252 students who were not ready for algebra or transferred from another district.

A closer look

Ortiz said over half of RISD students met their expected growth goals in reading and math, outpacing the national norm of 50%. Ortiz also noted that students that stay in RISD for at least a full year saw their growth outpacing their prior year’s performance.

The board highlighted a few campuses that showed outstanding growth from the fall to spring exams, including Jess Harben Elementary, Forest Lane Elementary and Richardson North Junior High.

DeMarcus Goree-Watkins, Forest Lane Elementary principal, said his campus ensured that each student knew their growth goal and had touch points throughout the year to check in with their teachers and celebrate accomplishing their goals.

“Students know what their goals are. They know to communicate their goals,” Goree-Watkins said. “It’s changed the trajectory of the way they look at their selves.”

Looking ahead

Ortiz said the district will analyze the MAP data to create individual growth plans for each student in 2026-27, with a deeper focus on targeted intervention and enrichment opportunities for students.

Although the district has seen student growth, Branum said the results are not “where we want to be yet.”

“Until we reach our north star goal, where 100% of our students are meeting or exceeding their academic growth goals, we know we are in continuous improvement,” Branum said.