MAP testing data shows improvements for middle school math at Columbia schools
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Columbia Board of Education is expected to provide an update on the school district's Missouri Assessment Program testing data on Monday. The presentation is expected to include data projecting what the final MAP results will be in 2024.
The statewide assessments are designed to improve accountability and measure student performance. According to a recent presentation from an Aug. 6 BOE meeting statewide participation in the test continues to be more than 95%. Even charter schools -- which are typically free from many of the rules and regulations that public schools are subjected to -- are required to participate in MAP testing.
According to Columbia Public Schools, the overall 2024 results show small improvements over the previous year, specifically in middle school math, which has matched or surpassed pre-pandemic levels. However, the district noted a decline in fifth-grade English, eighth-grade science and English, and optional end-of-course assessment in English I.
Of the students tested grades 3-8, fewer than 20% were considered “proficient” in English. Fourth, fifth and seventh grades were tied for the highest percentage of students considered “proficient” at 20% each. Meanwhile, the third grade had the most students considered “below basic” in English at 29%.
The third grade was also tied with the fourth grade for students who took Algebra I for having roughly 29% of students “below basic” in math. The 12,435 students who took Algebra II had the highest percentage of students who were considered “advanced” at 29%.
Of the students tested in science, the fifth grade had 27% of students “below basic” while the eighth grade had 25%.
For the overall district that was tested in social studies, numbers show that 54% of students were considered to be “basic” in American government while 55% were “basic” in American history. Seven percent of students were “advanced in American Government” while just 4% were “advanced” in American history.
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