Oh, and I think the rate of moving up totally depends on the kid. There was one girl last year that started at like 4 and ended on 16, but another boy who started at 4 and ended on 6. Once you get to the letters in first grade on up things definitely move slower.

To answer your original question, almost all the kids in my child's upper county elementary school were above level 6. In the good teachers' classes I'd say probably 1/3 were at level 16.

My child (now in 1st) started at a three or four and ended at a 16. She is now past that.

there is some info here - http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/info/keys/key1.shtm

Anonymous wrote:What do the levels mean? In other words - does a level four actually read? If a child is still working on letter recognition what level would they be? Is this described somewhere. I'm just curious.

OP here. My DD is reading Bob series intermediate books (although she has not finished the series they seem to be pretty easy for her). She is also reading paperbacks with 1-2 simple sentences per page. That somehow corresponds to a level 4 in MCPS. I'm definitely going to ask for clarification at the PT conference so at least I can understand where she is and where she is going with reading.

What do the levels mean? In other words - does a level four actually read? If a child is still working on letter recognition what level would they be? Is this described somewhere. I'm just curious.

Anonymous wrote:My son started at 10 and ended at 16 (he is on the older end of his classmates). So, there is regular progression. If she is starting at 4 this early, she may end at 8 or 10 depending on how much reading is done at home.

Thanks. My DD has a June bday, so she is definitely one of the youngest. We have not had conferences yet, so I didn't know the average rate of progression (although the teacher did call me to to tell me she moved to level 4). We do read at home daily.

My son started at 10 and ended at 16 (he is on the older end of his classmates). So, there is regular progression. If she is starting at 4 this early, she may end at 8 or 10 depending on how much reading is done at home.

There is a huge range of reading levels in kindergarten. If she is at level 4 now, she should have no trouble hitting level 6 by the end of the year.

It's my understanding that Montgomery County expects a child to end K at a level 6. What level are most children ending K at realistically? I know a family member (not my child) who ended K at a level 8. My DD is currently at a level 4. How often are kids moved up levels also (what I mean is that do you see kids moving up 5-6 levels or more likely 2-3 levels)? I'm just curious as to how it all works.