Maryland State Board of Education meeting Tuesday, February 22, 2022 (7News)
WASHINGTON (7News) — The Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) results for the 2024-25 school year show discrepancies between students' test scores as educators attempt to recover from pandemic-related setbacks.
The data was released by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) during the latest State Board of Education meeting. The latest results mark the fourth full administration of the English language arts (ELA) and mathematics assessments since the pandemic.
There was a 5.5 percentage point increase in overall performance since the 2021-22 school year.
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"Maryland students are making progress. For the third year in a row, we have seen performance increases," said Dr. Carey M. Wright, State Superintendent of Schools. "We will continue to explore enhanced teacher resources, professional learning, and student supports. I am excited that we’re headed in the right direction."
English language arts proficiency has reached 50.8 percent, up from 48.4 percent the previous year and 45.3 percent in the 2021-22 school year.
Mathematics proficiency has a slower increase, jumping to 26.5 percent from 24.1 percent the previous year and 21.0 percent in the 2021-22 school year.
However, for certain demographic groups, improvement has been slower.
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Data shows a 3.2 percentage point increase in ELA performance among Black/African American students, reaching 39.4 percent, and a 3.4 percentage point improvement for economically disadvantaged students, reaching 34.5 percent. Nearly all student groups saw slight increases in mathematics proficiency.
The largest gaps exist among multilingual students, economically disadvantaged students, and students with disabilities.
"This progress proves that when we focus on the fundamentals, our efforts pay off," said Dr. Joshua L. Michael, State Board of Education President. "By raising expectations, sharpening curriculum, and strengthening instruction, we’re opening doors, because literacy and math unlock every other opportunity.”