Only 57% of MCPS students proficient in reading, 36% proficient in math

[Anonymous]

SOURCE: https://bethesdamagazine.com/2025/08/27/state-test-scores-mcps-gains-reading-math-science/

Students at Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) scored higher than the state average on annual standardized tests during the 2024-2025 school year, but scores show only 57% of MCPS students are proficient in English Language Arts and 35.7% are proficient in math, according to data provided by the Maryland State Department of Education on Tuesday.

Still, MCPS students showed some improvements in reading, math and science proficiencies, according to the data.

“This is important growth for our students,” MCPS Superintendent Thomas Taylor said in a Tuesday statement. “I believe that these results show that we are turning the corner and moving in the right direction. However, we still have much work to do to get to where we need to be.”

Disparities in test scores among student demographics also continue to plague MCPS and the state, with Black and Hispanic/Latino students scoring lower than their white and Asian classmates, according to state data.

This is embarrassing. How is it that MCPS is ok with graduating students with these low levels of proficiency?

[Anonymous]

That's...really really bad. Yet the most popular thread on this forum is about magnet programs that serve 100 kids/year.

[Anonymous]

Oh so these are the MCAP scores from April. So does this mean that parents will get them soon, or will we have to wait a year again?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:SOURCE: https://bethesdamagazine.com/2025/08/27/state-test-scores-mcps-gains-reading-math-science/

Students at Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) scored higher than the state average on annual standardized tests during the 2024-2025 school year, but scores show only 57% of MCPS students are proficient in English Language Arts and 35.7% are proficient in math, according to data provided by the Maryland State Department of Education on Tuesday.

Still, MCPS students showed some improvements in reading, math and science proficiencies, according to the data.

“This is important growth for our students,” MCPS Superintendent Thomas Taylor said in a Tuesday statement. “I believe that these results show that we are turning the corner and moving in the right direction. However, we still have much work to do to get to where we need to be.”

Disparities in test scores among student demographics also continue to plague MCPS and the state, with Black and Hispanic/Latino students scoring lower than their white and Asian classmates, according to state data.

This is embarrassing. How is it that MCPS is ok with graduating students with these low levels of proficiency?

Can they break it down by race? This stats is meaningless for me without that. Achievement Gap has only become bigger.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That's...really really bad. Yet the most popular thread on this forum is about magnet programs that serve 100 kids/year.

One has nothing to do with the other but they need to go back to basics and a more traditional curriculum with a heavier literacy focus, bring back spelling, vocab and grammar. Bring back real homework.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SOURCE: https://bethesdamagazine.com/2025/08/27/state-test-scores-mcps-gains-reading-math-science/

Students at Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) scored higher than the state average on annual standardized tests during the 2024-2025 school year, but scores show only 57% of MCPS students are proficient in English Language Arts and 35.7% are proficient in math, according to data provided by the Maryland State Department of Education on Tuesday.

Still, MCPS students showed some improvements in reading, math and science proficiencies, according to the data.

“This is important growth for our students,” MCPS Superintendent Thomas Taylor said in a Tuesday statement. “I believe that these results show that we are turning the corner and moving in the right direction. However, we still have much work to do to get to where we need to be.”

Disparities in test scores among student demographics also continue to plague MCPS and the state, with Black and Hispanic/Latino students scoring lower than their white and Asian classmates, according to state data.

This is embarrassing. How is it that MCPS is ok with graduating students with these low levels of proficiency?

Can they break it down by race? This stats is meaningless for me without that. Achievement Gap has only become bigger.

Don't you read? The OP talks about stats by race. The article link has more info.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's...really really bad. Yet the most popular thread on this forum is about magnet programs that serve 100 kids/year.

One has nothing to do with the other but they need to go back to basics and a more traditional curriculum with a heavier literacy focus, bring back spelling, vocab and grammar. Bring back real homework.

We have had spelling since 1st and vocab in MCPS. Grammar should be for later ES and middle. HW besides reading and basic math review is not appropriate for ES until about 4th. The curriculum is fine, new math pathways are better than before and finally focus on phonics is the right move and took too long to get there. Many kids using non phonics based reading approaches flounder in later grades with out a solid basis. I'd like to see the scores differential between traditional and innovative calendar schools as well. We have a huge diverse student body (racial and SES diversity). Phones and screens and games are undermining so much education. Kids don't read, don't have books or magazines at home, want to get information from 2 minute videos and can't focus anymore. Having any school fight against that is a challenge.

[Anonymous]

This is what happens when the MCPS guidelines say that you can cram 30+ kids in a classroom, including ones with substantial special needs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That's...really really bad. Yet the most popular thread on this forum is about magnet programs that serve 100 kids/year.

That's because those are the most engaged parents in the system, who are motivated and invested in the educational outcomes for their kids.

Many of the parents of the kids not showing proficiency on MCAP exams probably don't even know the exams exist, nor are they aware of DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SOURCE: https://bethesdamagazine.com/2025/08/27/state-test-scores-mcps-gains-reading-math-science/

Students at Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) scored higher than the state average on annual standardized tests during the 2024-2025 school year, but scores show only 57% of MCPS students are proficient in English Language Arts and 35.7% are proficient in math, according to data provided by the Maryland State Department of Education on Tuesday.

Still, MCPS students showed some improvements in reading, math and science proficiencies, according to the data.

“This is important growth for our students,” MCPS Superintendent Thomas Taylor said in a Tuesday statement. “I believe that these results show that we are turning the corner and moving in the right direction. However, we still have much work to do to get to where we need to be.”

Disparities in test scores among student demographics also continue to plague MCPS and the state, with Black and Hispanic/Latino students scoring lower than their white and Asian classmates, according to state data.

This is embarrassing. How is it that MCPS is ok with graduating students with these low levels of proficiency?

Can they break it down by race? This stats is meaningless for me without that. Achievement Gap has only become bigger.

If you click the source link, the reporter from Bethesda Today does break out the MCAP results by race.

[Anonymous]

and it's above State and National averages.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's...really really bad. Yet the most popular thread on this forum is about magnet programs that serve 100 kids/year.

One has nothing to do with the other but they need to go back to basics and a more traditional curriculum with a heavier literacy focus, bring back spelling, vocab and grammar. Bring back real homework.

We have had spelling since 1st and vocab in MCPS. Grammar should be for later ES and middle. HW besides reading and basic math review is not appropriate for ES until about 4th. The curriculum is fine, new math pathways are better than before and finally focus on phonics is the right move and took too long to get there. Many kids using non phonics based reading approaches flounder in later grades with out a solid basis. I'd like to see the scores differential between traditional and innovative calendar schools as well. We have a huge diverse student body (racial and SES diversity). Phones and screens and games are undermining so much education. Kids don't read, don't have books or magazines at home, want to get information from 2 minute videos and can't focus anymore. Having any school fight against that is a challenge.

There's only one school in MCPS still on the Innovative School Year calendar: Arcola Elementary.

Roscoe Nix petitioned and got pulled out of that model and is back to a traditional school calendar last year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:and it's above State and National averages.

So we shouldn't be alarmed?

[Anonymous]

What is the denominator?

For example, if they are only reporting Math proficiency for those on-level, and leaving out accelerated students, they'd be leaving out the bulk of students by Algebra (a majority in MCPS take that before 9th grade, which is on-level from the state perspective), likely under-reporting proficiency by a considerable amount, as those more Math-capable students almost certainly would show higher rates of proficiency.

What is the racial breakdown by receiving services (FARMS, EML, IEP, 504) vs. not? Does the racial disparity close considerably when viewed that way?

If reported, would these and other, more nuanced analyses support a different narrative, with then-different approaches to solutions, than those we tend to see being pushed?

[Anonymous]

I was going to respond to the other poster talking about how other red states will have worse schools but I guess Jeff deleted it.

But just wanted to point out the top 30 schools in the DC Metro area according to US News:

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/15/1288311.page

Looking at the top twenty, Fairfax has 8 schools. (TJ doesn't count) MCPS has 5, three of which have the magnet or IB program.

Expanding it to the top thirty, Fairfax has 10 (excluding TJ). MCPS has 8, including the three schools with special programs.

Rankings within the state is kind of meaningless because of how wide and different the populations in the state is.

So comparing rankings within the specific DC Metro region is more applicable.

But I think the days of thinking MCPS as a premier school system is pretty much gone.

As others said, it's not a bad school system overall.

But personally I only see it continuing going down with the kind of changes they're trying to implement. And one doesn't have to go far to find a better school system in the area.