The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) released local school system and school-level data today for PARCC, Maryland’s school assessments in English/Language Arts and mathematics. Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) closed its gap with the state average and showed steady growth in most subjects and grades.

“We continue to move in the right direction, with improvement in overall scores and instruction. We are focused on classroom instruction and test scores are one indicator we use to make adjustments to our curriculum and to meeting the needs of all of our students,” Superintendent Kimberly Hill said.

CCPS students showed significant improvement in Algebra I at the middle school level and Algebra II in high school.  Algebra II scores increased to 47.6 percent, and 17.6 percent above state average.

“We made some nice strides and improvements. The results provide us with information to help us improve classroom instruction. PARCC scores are just one of many indicators we use to meet the needs of our students and prepare our students to reach college and career readiness goals,” Deputy Superintendent Amy Hollstein said.

According to MSDE, for students in grades 3 through 8, achieving level 4 or 5 indicates their readiness for coursework in English/Language Arts and math at the next grade, with the goal of preparing students to enter college or a career upon graduation. High school students taking Algebra I and English II are required to reach a certain proficiency level as a high school graduation requirement.

County scores, elementary schools

Mathematics: Overall, students in grades 3-5 scored 36.5 percent at levels 4 and 5, up from 36.1 percent in 2016. Fifth-grade students scored 31.2 percent at levels 4 and 5; fourth-grade students scored 36 percent at levels 4 and 5; and third-grade students scored 42.2 percent at levels 4 and 5.

English/Language Arts: Overall, students in grades 3-5 scored 42.1 percent at levels 4 and 5, up from 37.4 percent in 2016. Fifth-grade students scored 46.1 percent at levels 4 and 5; fourth-grade students scored 41.3 percent at levels 4 and 5; and third-grade students scored 38.8 percent at levels 4 and 5.

County scores, middle schools

Mathematics: Overall, 34.4 percent of middle school students scored a combined score of 4 and 5 on the mathematics assessment, up from 30.78 in 2016. Students in eighth grade taking the mathematics assessment scored 12.9 percent at levels 4 and 5; students in seventh grade scored 27.2 percent at levels 4 and 5; and students in sixth grade scored 26 percent at levels 4 and 5. Middle school students taking the PARCC Algebra I assessment scored 71.58 percent at levels 4 and 5, up from 51.5 percent in 2016.

English/Language Arts: Overall, 35.7 percent of middle school students scored at levels 4 and 5 combined, up from 35.5 in 2016. Countywide, students in eighth grade scored 39 percent at levels 4 and 5; students in seventh grade scored 38.3 percent at levels 4 and 5; and students in sixth grade scored 29.9 percent at levels 4 and 5.

County scores, high schools

Two PARCC assessments, Algebra I and English II, became high school graduation requirements in the 2016-17 school year.

Algebra I: Overall, 33.5 percent of high school students scored at levels 4 and 5, up from 29.7 in 2016.

English II: Overall high school students scored 40.8 percent at levels 4 and 5, down from 42.4 percent in 2016.

The PARCC assessment scoring uses a five-point score scale set by Maryland educators and others:

• Level 5 – Exceeded Expectations
• Level 4 – Met Expectations
• Level 3 – Approached Expectations
• Level 2 – Partially Met Expectations
• Level 1 – Did Not Yet Meet Expectations

These tests also will show growth in student achievement over time.  For example, parents and teachers will better be able to determine if students taking the math and reading assessments in third grade are progressing in their understanding of the subject matter when they reach fourth grade and beyond.

The pattern of raising standards and creating new assessments has been in place in Maryland since the 1980s.

The school system is mailing individual student reports to parents in September.

For complete CCPS results, visit http://reportcard.msde.maryland.gov/.