Anonymous
Post 08/29/2025 08:38     Subject: Only 57% of MCPS students proficient in reading, 36% proficient in math

Teachers are blamed fired and chastised if we don't give inflated grades. It's also so so much easier if we just give a high grade then do all the grading. Actually we don't have enough overtime hours to grade honestly and even if we did parents and admin would skin us alive if we have low grades.
Anonymous
Post 08/29/2025 06:14     Subject: Only 57% of MCPS students proficient in reading, 36% proficient in math

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My kid did terrible at the MCAP. Just average scores. She is however 99th on MAP-R. Testing and knowledge are two different things.


Oh interesting. I wonder how common this is? Not this exact disparity (99th percentile MAP kid scoring low on MCAP) but just in general kids being rated as "not proficient" on MCAP despite actually being proficient...


Teachers and administrators have raised concerns about MCAP specifically for a long time. My 99th percentile kid did very well on MCAP for two years, then tanked it one year. What was different? Not the ability (MAP scores remained consistent), and not the effort (my kid is a Hermione Granger type who would die before purposefully throwing a test). Just...a bad day. Maybe she was coming down with something. Maybe she forgot to eat lunch. I have no idea, but it ultimately meant nothing.


It’s hilarious how whenever the test scores are bad, school system defenders will insist there’s something wrong with the test and not the school system. And yet, when the scores are good, the system has no qualms about using them as evidence to crow about how great the system is.

You have no idea of what you're talking about.
MCAP started in 2021 and no school district in MD has done great on it since it started. There have been improvements but no district has done great. No school district has used MCAP as evidence to crow about how great they are. None.
It a bad assessment test. Schools administrators don't like it and students don't care about it. That's why the State had to make it a graduation requirement.
The new state superintendent was supposed to take a review of the MCAP.


You keep talking about MCAP.

My criticisms about the system outcomes are not relegated to just this instance of MCAP. It's talking about the ongoing pattern of decreased proficiencies on a MULTITUDE of assessments including:
- MCAP
- PARCC
- MSA
- EOL
- SAT/ACT scores
- AP/IB scores

Here's a throwback to MCPS's PARCC results from in Sept 2018: https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/sharedaccountability/reports/2018/18.09.13%202018%20Final%20PARCC%20Student%20Results.pdf

From 2018: https://wtop.com/maryland/2018/08/2018-parcc-scores-top-scoring-maryland-school-systems/

51% of MCPS 3-8 students demonstrated proficiency in ELA standards. 44% of MCPS 3-8 students demonstrated proficiency in math standards.

As I stated: The proficiency problems in MCPS PRECEDE MCAP. Blaming the test does not work because the proficiency levels weren't great on state-tests that preceded MCAP and they've continued to NOT be great systemwide for external tests such as SAT/ACT and AP/IB scores.

Pull your head out of the sand and stop blame shifting. MCPS has long had an instructional quality problem.

Because that's the subject of this thread.
-Let's look at PARCC. What was the national proficiency average and state proficiency average at the time? National proficiency average was 32%, State proficiency rate was 38% while MCPS was 51%.
Why did MD and every other state that used to administer the PARCC assessment get rid of it? Because it was a very bad assessment.
-What "ongoing pattern of decreased proficiencies" in SAT/ACT, AP/IB scores are you talking about?
SAT scores are higher, AP scores have never been higher, hovering in the 70s%. 20 out 25 HS made the AP list. Do you have a clue of what you're talking about? What do you get from lying and posting false information? Are you related to the TACO man?


Oh boy. You folks in CO work overtime to justify lackluster performance from MCPS. Even with Taylor admitting that there's rampant grade inflation and acknowledging the decline of the system as outlined in the Bethesda Magazine feature: https://bethesdamagazine.com/2024/10/08/does-mcps-deserve-a-passing-grade/ you still want to defend the system? You're a lost cause.


Your reading comprehension is also lacking.
How can Taylor admit to grade inflation when he has been the superintendent for just a few months?
You want to spread false information without being called out. Again, what are you gaining from spreading lies and misinformation? You just can't help it. Lying comes natural to you, just like the TACO man.


What are you talking about? I don’t even work at MCPS but if you look at the former grading policy and compare it to other districts and the distribution of GPA, it’s obvious to a duck that there is grade inflation at MCPS.



+1 More than 51% of the class of 2023 graduated with a weighted GPA of 4.0 or higher, versus 27.8% for the class of 2013, according to MCPS.


Now that’s funny.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2025 23:55     Subject: Only 57% of MCPS students proficient in reading, 36% proficient in math

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My kid did terrible at the MCAP. Just average scores. She is however 99th on MAP-R. Testing and knowledge are two different things.


Oh interesting. I wonder how common this is? Not this exact disparity (99th percentile MAP kid scoring low on MCAP) but just in general kids being rated as "not proficient" on MCAP despite actually being proficient...


Teachers and administrators have raised concerns about MCAP specifically for a long time. My 99th percentile kid did very well on MCAP for two years, then tanked it one year. What was different? Not the ability (MAP scores remained consistent), and not the effort (my kid is a Hermione Granger type who would die before purposefully throwing a test). Just...a bad day. Maybe she was coming down with something. Maybe she forgot to eat lunch. I have no idea, but it ultimately meant nothing.


It’s hilarious how whenever the test scores are bad, school system defenders will insist there’s something wrong with the test and not the school system. And yet, when the scores are good, the system has no qualms about using them as evidence to crow about how great the system is.

You have no idea of what you're talking about.
MCAP started in 2021 and no school district in MD has done great on it since it started. There have been improvements but no district has done great. No school district has used MCAP as evidence to crow about how great they are. None.
It a bad assessment test. Schools administrators don't like it and students don't care about it. That's why the State had to make it a graduation requirement.
The new state superintendent was supposed to take a review of the MCAP.


You keep talking about MCAP.

My criticisms about the system outcomes are not relegated to just this instance of MCAP. It's talking about the ongoing pattern of decreased proficiencies on a MULTITUDE of assessments including:
- MCAP
- PARCC
- MSA
- EOL
- SAT/ACT scores
- AP/IB scores

Here's a throwback to MCPS's PARCC results from in Sept 2018: https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/sharedaccountability/reports/2018/18.09.13%202018%20Final%20PARCC%20Student%20Results.pdf

From 2018: https://wtop.com/maryland/2018/08/2018-parcc-scores-top-scoring-maryland-school-systems/

51% of MCPS 3-8 students demonstrated proficiency in ELA standards. 44% of MCPS 3-8 students demonstrated proficiency in math standards.

As I stated: The proficiency problems in MCPS PRECEDE MCAP. Blaming the test does not work because the proficiency levels weren't great on state-tests that preceded MCAP and they've continued to NOT be great systemwide for external tests such as SAT/ACT and AP/IB scores.

Pull your head out of the sand and stop blame shifting. MCPS has long had an instructional quality problem.

Because that's the subject of this thread.
-Let's look at PARCC. What was the national proficiency average and state proficiency average at the time? National proficiency average was 32%, State proficiency rate was 38% while MCPS was 51%.
Why did MD and every other state that used to administer the PARCC assessment get rid of it? Because it was a very bad assessment.
-What "ongoing pattern of decreased proficiencies" in SAT/ACT, AP/IB scores are you talking about?
SAT scores are higher, AP scores have never been higher, hovering in the 70s%. 20 out 25 HS made the AP list. Do you have a clue of what you're talking about? What do you get from lying and posting false information? Are you related to the TACO man?


Oh boy. You folks in CO work overtime to justify lackluster performance from MCPS. Even with Taylor admitting that there's rampant grade inflation and acknowledging the decline of the system as outlined in the Bethesda Magazine feature: https://bethesdamagazine.com/2024/10/08/does-mcps-deserve-a-passing-grade/ you still want to defend the system? You're a lost cause.


Your reading comprehension is also lacking.
How can Taylor admit to grade inflation when he has been the superintendent for just a few months?
You want to spread false information without being called out. Again, what are you gaining from spreading lies and misinformation? You just can't help it. Lying comes natural to you, just like the TACO man.


What are you talking about? I don’t even work at MCPS but if you look at the former grading policy and compare it to other districts and the distribution of GPA, it’s obvious to a duck that there is grade inflation at MCPS.



+1 More than 51% of the class of 2023 graduated with a weighted GPA of 4.0 or higher, versus 27.8% for the class of 2013, according to MCPS.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2025 20:52     Subject: Only 57% of MCPS students proficient in reading, 36% proficient in math

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My kid did terrible at the MCAP. Just average scores. She is however 99th on MAP-R. Testing and knowledge are two different things.


Oh interesting. I wonder how common this is? Not this exact disparity (99th percentile MAP kid scoring low on MCAP) but just in general kids being rated as "not proficient" on MCAP despite actually being proficient...


Teachers and administrators have raised concerns about MCAP specifically for a long time. My 99th percentile kid did very well on MCAP for two years, then tanked it one year. What was different? Not the ability (MAP scores remained consistent), and not the effort (my kid is a Hermione Granger type who would die before purposefully throwing a test). Just...a bad day. Maybe she was coming down with something. Maybe she forgot to eat lunch. I have no idea, but it ultimately meant nothing.


It’s hilarious how whenever the test scores are bad, school system defenders will insist there’s something wrong with the test and not the school system. And yet, when the scores are good, the system has no qualms about using them as evidence to crow about how great the system is.

You have no idea of what you're talking about.
MCAP started in 2021 and no school district in MD has done great on it since it started. There have been improvements but no district has done great. No school district has used MCAP as evidence to crow about how great they are. None.
It a bad assessment test. Schools administrators don't like it and students don't care about it. That's why the State had to make it a graduation requirement.
The new state superintendent was supposed to take a review of the MCAP.


You keep talking about MCAP.

My criticisms about the system outcomes are not relegated to just this instance of MCAP. It's talking about the ongoing pattern of decreased proficiencies on a MULTITUDE of assessments including:
- MCAP
- PARCC
- MSA
- EOL
- SAT/ACT scores
- AP/IB scores

Here's a throwback to MCPS's PARCC results from in Sept 2018: https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/sharedaccountability/reports/2018/18.09.13%202018%20Final%20PARCC%20Student%20Results.pdf

From 2018: https://wtop.com/maryland/2018/08/2018-parcc-scores-top-scoring-maryland-school-systems/

51% of MCPS 3-8 students demonstrated proficiency in ELA standards. 44% of MCPS 3-8 students demonstrated proficiency in math standards.

As I stated: The proficiency problems in MCPS PRECEDE MCAP. Blaming the test does not work because the proficiency levels weren't great on state-tests that preceded MCAP and they've continued to NOT be great systemwide for external tests such as SAT/ACT and AP/IB scores.

Pull your head out of the sand and stop blame shifting. MCPS has long had an instructional quality problem.

Because that's the subject of this thread.
-Let's look at PARCC. What was the national proficiency average and state proficiency average at the time? National proficiency average was 32%, State proficiency rate was 38% while MCPS was 51%.
Why did MD and every other state that used to administer the PARCC assessment get rid of it? Because it was a very bad assessment.
-What "ongoing pattern of decreased proficiencies" in SAT/ACT, AP/IB scores are you talking about?
SAT scores are higher, AP scores have never been higher, hovering in the 70s%. 20 out 25 HS made the AP list. Do you have a clue of what you're talking about? What do you get from lying and posting false information? Are you related to the TACO man?


You are not relying on facts and evidence: https://bethesdamagazine.com/2024/10/08/does-mcps-deserve-a-passing-grade/

As for tests once considered crucial in determining college readiness, fewer MCPS students took AP exams last year than a decade ago, decreasing from 66% in 2013 to just under 60% in 2023. And the percentage of those scoring a 3 or higher—which is considered passing—on at least one exam dropped by five percentage points to just over 46%. MCPS still surpasses national averages by a significant margin: Less than 35% of public high school students across the U.S. took an AP exam in 2023, and of these, less than 22% scored a 3 or higher on at least one exam, according to the College Board, which administers the tests.

On the SATs, county data shows that the average composite score among 2023 MCPS graduates was 1064 (out of a possible 1600). That’s more than 100 points lower than a decade ago, when the average composite score was the equivalent of 1190, based on a conversion from the 2400 scale that was used at the time.

Fro DoE. Increase participation rate and 76% passing rate
https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED671680.pdf
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2025 20:47     Subject: Only 57% of MCPS students proficient in reading, 36% proficient in math

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Anyone really trying to defend this performance??


I think we’d all like to see our own kids’ test scores soon and not wait til 2026 to get them. You take 4 days of our kids’ time to test them-get us the results and post them in ParentVue.


+1. I would like to see where my kid falls within these county averages. When should we expect the scores to be posted?
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2025 20:43     Subject: Only 57% of MCPS students proficient in reading, 36% proficient in math

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My kid did terrible at the MCAP. Just average scores. She is however 99th on MAP-R. Testing and knowledge are two different things.


Oh interesting. I wonder how common this is? Not this exact disparity (99th percentile MAP kid scoring low on MCAP) but just in general kids being rated as "not proficient" on MCAP despite actually being proficient...


Teachers and administrators have raised concerns about MCAP specifically for a long time. My 99th percentile kid did very well on MCAP for two years, then tanked it one year. What was different? Not the ability (MAP scores remained consistent), and not the effort (my kid is a Hermione Granger type who would die before purposefully throwing a test). Just...a bad day. Maybe she was coming down with something. Maybe she forgot to eat lunch. I have no idea, but it ultimately meant nothing.


It’s hilarious how whenever the test scores are bad, school system defenders will insist there’s something wrong with the test and not the school system. And yet, when the scores are good, the system has no qualms about using them as evidence to crow about how great the system is.

You have no idea of what you're talking about.
MCAP started in 2021 and no school district in MD has done great on it since it started. There have been improvements but no district has done great. No school district has used MCAP as evidence to crow about how great they are. None.
It a bad assessment test. Schools administrators don't like it and students don't care about it. That's why the State had to make it a graduation requirement.
The new state superintendent was supposed to take a review of the MCAP.


You keep talking about MCAP.

My criticisms about the system outcomes are not relegated to just this instance of MCAP. It's talking about the ongoing pattern of decreased proficiencies on a MULTITUDE of assessments including:
- MCAP
- PARCC
- MSA
- EOL
- SAT/ACT scores
- AP/IB scores

Here's a throwback to MCPS's PARCC results from in Sept 2018: https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/sharedaccountability/reports/2018/18.09.13%202018%20Final%20PARCC%20Student%20Results.pdf

From 2018: https://wtop.com/maryland/2018/08/2018-parcc-scores-top-scoring-maryland-school-systems/

51% of MCPS 3-8 students demonstrated proficiency in ELA standards. 44% of MCPS 3-8 students demonstrated proficiency in math standards.

As I stated: The proficiency problems in MCPS PRECEDE MCAP. Blaming the test does not work because the proficiency levels weren't great on state-tests that preceded MCAP and they've continued to NOT be great systemwide for external tests such as SAT/ACT and AP/IB scores.

Pull your head out of the sand and stop blame shifting. MCPS has long had an instructional quality problem.

Because that's the subject of this thread.
-Let's look at PARCC. What was the national proficiency average and state proficiency average at the time? National proficiency average was 32%, State proficiency rate was 38% while MCPS was 51%.
Why did MD and every other state that used to administer the PARCC assessment get rid of it? Because it was a very bad assessment.
-What "ongoing pattern of decreased proficiencies" in SAT/ACT, AP/IB scores are you talking about?
SAT scores are higher, AP scores have never been higher, hovering in the 70s%. 20 out 25 HS made the AP list. Do you have a clue of what you're talking about? What do you get from lying and posting false information? Are you related to the TACO man?


Oh boy. You folks in CO work overtime to justify lackluster performance from MCPS. Even with Taylor admitting that there's rampant grade inflation and acknowledging the decline of the system as outlined in the Bethesda Magazine feature: https://bethesdamagazine.com/2024/10/08/does-mcps-deserve-a-passing-grade/ you still want to defend the system? You're a lost cause.


Your reading comprehension is also lacking.
How can Taylor admit to grade inflation when he has been the superintendent for just a few months?
You want to spread false information without being called out. Again, what are you gaining from spreading lies and misinformation? You just can't help it. Lying comes natural to you, just like the TACO man.


What are you talking about? I don’t even work at MCPS but if you look at the former grading policy and compare it to other districts and the distribution of GPA, it’s obvious to a duck that there is grade inflation at MCPS.

Anonymous
Post 08/28/2025 20:38     Subject: Only 57% of MCPS students proficient in reading, 36% proficient in math

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My kid did terrible at the MCAP. Just average scores. She is however 99th on MAP-R. Testing and knowledge are two different things.


Oh interesting. I wonder how common this is? Not this exact disparity (99th percentile MAP kid scoring low on MCAP) but just in general kids being rated as "not proficient" on MCAP despite actually being proficient...


Teachers and administrators have raised concerns about MCAP specifically for a long time. My 99th percentile kid did very well on MCAP for two years, then tanked it one year. What was different? Not the ability (MAP scores remained consistent), and not the effort (my kid is a Hermione Granger type who would die before purposefully throwing a test). Just...a bad day. Maybe she was coming down with something. Maybe she forgot to eat lunch. I have no idea, but it ultimately meant nothing.


It’s hilarious how whenever the test scores are bad, school system defenders will insist there’s something wrong with the test and not the school system. And yet, when the scores are good, the system has no qualms about using them as evidence to crow about how great the system is.

You have no idea of what you're talking about.
MCAP started in 2021 and no school district in MD has done great on it since it started. There have been improvements but no district has done great. No school district has used MCAP as evidence to crow about how great they are. None.
It a bad assessment test. Schools administrators don't like it and students don't care about it. That's why the State had to make it a graduation requirement.
The new state superintendent was supposed to take a review of the MCAP.


You keep talking about MCAP.

My criticisms about the system outcomes are not relegated to just this instance of MCAP. It's talking about the ongoing pattern of decreased proficiencies on a MULTITUDE of assessments including:
- MCAP
- PARCC
- MSA
- EOL
- SAT/ACT scores
- AP/IB scores

Here's a throwback to MCPS's PARCC results from in Sept 2018: https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/sharedaccountability/reports/2018/18.09.13%202018%20Final%20PARCC%20Student%20Results.pdf

From 2018: https://wtop.com/maryland/2018/08/2018-parcc-scores-top-scoring-maryland-school-systems/

51% of MCPS 3-8 students demonstrated proficiency in ELA standards. 44% of MCPS 3-8 students demonstrated proficiency in math standards.

As I stated: The proficiency problems in MCPS PRECEDE MCAP. Blaming the test does not work because the proficiency levels weren't great on state-tests that preceded MCAP and they've continued to NOT be great systemwide for external tests such as SAT/ACT and AP/IB scores.

Pull your head out of the sand and stop blame shifting. MCPS has long had an instructional quality problem.

Because that's the subject of this thread.
-Let's look at PARCC. What was the national proficiency average and state proficiency average at the time? National proficiency average was 32%, State proficiency rate was 38% while MCPS was 51%.
Why did MD and every other state that used to administer the PARCC assessment get rid of it? Because it was a very bad assessment.
-What "ongoing pattern of decreased proficiencies" in SAT/ACT, AP/IB scores are you talking about?
SAT scores are higher, AP scores have never been higher, hovering in the 70s%. 20 out 25 HS made the AP list. Do you have a clue of what you're talking about? What do you get from lying and posting false information? Are you related to the TACO man?


Oh boy. You folks in CO work overtime to justify lackluster performance from MCPS. Even with Taylor admitting that there's rampant grade inflation and acknowledging the decline of the system as outlined in the Bethesda Magazine feature: https://bethesdamagazine.com/2024/10/08/does-mcps-deserve-a-passing-grade/ you still want to defend the system? You're a lost cause.


Your reading comprehension is also lacking.
How can Taylor admit to grade inflation when he has been the superintendent for just a few months?
You want to spread false information without being called out. Again, what are you gaining from spreading lies and misinformation? You just can't help it. Lying comes natural to you, just like the TACO man.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2025 20:32     Subject: Only 57% of MCPS students proficient in reading, 36% proficient in math

Anonymous wrote:Anyone really trying to defend this performance??


I think we’d all like to see our own kids’ test scores soon and not wait til 2026 to get them. You take 4 days of our kids’ time to test them-get us the results and post them in ParentVue.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2025 20:29     Subject: Only 57% of MCPS students proficient in reading, 36% proficient in math

Anyone really trying to defend this performance??
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2025 20:15     Subject: Only 57% of MCPS students proficient in reading, 36% proficient in math

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

It's like this all over. Changes to remedial programs? Crickets. Changes to advanced programs? Tons of parents up in arms.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2025 20:13     Subject: Only 57% of MCPS students proficient in reading, 36% proficient in math

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My kid did terrible at the MCAP. Just average scores. She is however 99th on MAP-R. Testing and knowledge are two different things.


Oh interesting. I wonder how common this is? Not this exact disparity (99th percentile MAP kid scoring low on MCAP) but just in general kids being rated as "not proficient" on MCAP despite actually being proficient...


Teachers and administrators have raised concerns about MCAP specifically for a long time. My 99th percentile kid did very well on MCAP for two years, then tanked it one year. What was different? Not the ability (MAP scores remained consistent), and not the effort (my kid is a Hermione Granger type who would die before purposefully throwing a test). Just...a bad day. Maybe she was coming down with something. Maybe she forgot to eat lunch. I have no idea, but it ultimately meant nothing.


It’s hilarious how whenever the test scores are bad, school system defenders will insist there’s something wrong with the test and not the school system. And yet, when the scores are good, the system has no qualms about using them as evidence to crow about how great the system is.

You have no idea of what you're talking about.
MCAP started in 2021 and no school district in MD has done great on it since it started. There have been improvements but no district has done great. No school district has used MCAP as evidence to crow about how great they are. None.
It a bad assessment test. Schools administrators don't like it and students don't care about it. That's why the State had to make it a graduation requirement.
The new state superintendent was supposed to take a review of the MCAP.


State assessments existed before that, just with different names.

"In calendar 2018, MSDE announced the transition from the Partnership for the Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) to the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP). According to MSDE, this change was necessary so that State assessments were more reflective of the Maryland content standards and instruction."

Despite the years-long window from the time of announcement, many school systems, MCPS included, had difficulty transitioning to the new state content standards in reasonable time. The top-down, inadequately funded state mandate required sourcing of new curricula & associated teacher training on a different cycle/timetable than had been planned, and the timing coincided with pandemic effects, which, themselves, had immediate and lingering effects on test scores. (Though they gave more time, maybe MSDE better should have noted challenges with the prior transition from the Maryland School Assessments to PARCC for the 2014-15 school year.)

Simply put, despite the unifying promise of Common Core, MCPS classroom teaching had not aligned with the learning expectations inherent to the newer MSDE assessments. Part of the year-to-year improvement is the result of better alignment, with more past years of that under students' belts. That part should start to level off, along with the improvement due to pandemic recovery. Part may be from other MCPS initiatives, of course, and that is where continuation of improvement might be sought.

Of course, that assumes that the state does not seek another confounding change to the assessments.

Sigh! Did anyone say State assessment didn't exist before that?
We are talking about MCAP, which started in 2021.


You have a reading problem. The PP is making a larger point about the district trying to "spin" results on standardized tests, which happened before MCAP and continues now...
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2025 19:45     Subject: Only 57% of MCPS students proficient in reading, 36% proficient in math

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My kid did terrible at the MCAP. Just average scores. She is however 99th on MAP-R. Testing and knowledge are two different things.


Oh interesting. I wonder how common this is? Not this exact disparity (99th percentile MAP kid scoring low on MCAP) but just in general kids being rated as "not proficient" on MCAP despite actually being proficient...


Teachers and administrators have raised concerns about MCAP specifically for a long time. My 99th percentile kid did very well on MCAP for two years, then tanked it one year. What was different? Not the ability (MAP scores remained consistent), and not the effort (my kid is a Hermione Granger type who would die before purposefully throwing a test). Just...a bad day. Maybe she was coming down with something. Maybe she forgot to eat lunch. I have no idea, but it ultimately meant nothing.


It’s hilarious how whenever the test scores are bad, school system defenders will insist there’s something wrong with the test and not the school system. And yet, when the scores are good, the system has no qualms about using them as evidence to crow about how great the system is.

You have no idea of what you're talking about.
MCAP started in 2021 and no school district in MD has done great on it since it started. There have been improvements but no district has done great. No school district has used MCAP as evidence to crow about how great they are. None.
It a bad assessment test. Schools administrators don't like it and students don't care about it. That's why the State had to make it a graduation requirement.
The new state superintendent was supposed to take a review of the MCAP.


You keep talking about MCAP.

My criticisms about the system outcomes are not relegated to just this instance of MCAP. It's talking about the ongoing pattern of decreased proficiencies on a MULTITUDE of assessments including:
- MCAP
- PARCC
- MSA
- EOL
- SAT/ACT scores
- AP/IB scores

Here's a throwback to MCPS's PARCC results from in Sept 2018: https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/sharedaccountability/reports/2018/18.09.13%202018%20Final%20PARCC%20Student%20Results.pdf

From 2018: https://wtop.com/maryland/2018/08/2018-parcc-scores-top-scoring-maryland-school-systems/

51% of MCPS 3-8 students demonstrated proficiency in ELA standards. 44% of MCPS 3-8 students demonstrated proficiency in math standards.

As I stated: The proficiency problems in MCPS PRECEDE MCAP. Blaming the test does not work because the proficiency levels weren't great on state-tests that preceded MCAP and they've continued to NOT be great systemwide for external tests such as SAT/ACT and AP/IB scores.

Pull your head out of the sand and stop blame shifting. MCPS has long had an instructional quality problem.

Because that's the subject of this thread.
-Let's look at PARCC. What was the national proficiency average and state proficiency average at the time? National proficiency average was 32%, State proficiency rate was 38% while MCPS was 51%.
Why did MD and every other state that used to administer the PARCC assessment get rid of it? Because it was a very bad assessment.
-What "ongoing pattern of decreased proficiencies" in SAT/ACT, AP/IB scores are you talking about?
SAT scores are higher, AP scores have never been higher, hovering in the 70s%. 20 out 25 HS made the AP list. Do you have a clue of what you're talking about? What do you get from lying and posting false information? Are you related to the TACO man?


You are not relying on facts and evidence: https://bethesdamagazine.com/2024/10/08/does-mcps-deserve-a-passing-grade/

As for tests once considered crucial in determining college readiness, fewer MCPS students took AP exams last year than a decade ago, decreasing from 66% in 2013 to just under 60% in 2023. And the percentage of those scoring a 3 or higher—which is considered passing—on at least one exam dropped by five percentage points to just over 46%. MCPS still surpasses national averages by a significant margin: Less than 35% of public high school students across the U.S. took an AP exam in 2023, and of these, less than 22% scored a 3 or higher on at least one exam, according to the College Board, which administers the tests.

On the SATs, county data shows that the average composite score among 2023 MCPS graduates was 1064 (out of a possible 1600). That’s more than 100 points lower than a decade ago, when the average composite score was the equivalent of 1190, based on a conversion from the 2400 scale that was used at the time.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2025 19:42     Subject: Only 57% of MCPS students proficient in reading, 36% proficient in math

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My kid did terrible at the MCAP. Just average scores. She is however 99th on MAP-R. Testing and knowledge are two different things.


Oh interesting. I wonder how common this is? Not this exact disparity (99th percentile MAP kid scoring low on MCAP) but just in general kids being rated as "not proficient" on MCAP despite actually being proficient...


Teachers and administrators have raised concerns about MCAP specifically for a long time. My 99th percentile kid did very well on MCAP for two years, then tanked it one year. What was different? Not the ability (MAP scores remained consistent), and not the effort (my kid is a Hermione Granger type who would die before purposefully throwing a test). Just...a bad day. Maybe she was coming down with something. Maybe she forgot to eat lunch. I have no idea, but it ultimately meant nothing.


It’s hilarious how whenever the test scores are bad, school system defenders will insist there’s something wrong with the test and not the school system. And yet, when the scores are good, the system has no qualms about using them as evidence to crow about how great the system is.

You have no idea of what you're talking about.
MCAP started in 2021 and no school district in MD has done great on it since it started. There have been improvements but no district has done great. No school district has used MCAP as evidence to crow about how great they are. None.
It a bad assessment test. Schools administrators don't like it and students don't care about it. That's why the State had to make it a graduation requirement.
The new state superintendent was supposed to take a review of the MCAP.


You keep talking about MCAP.

My criticisms about the system outcomes are not relegated to just this instance of MCAP. It's talking about the ongoing pattern of decreased proficiencies on a MULTITUDE of assessments including:
- MCAP
- PARCC
- MSA
- EOL
- SAT/ACT scores
- AP/IB scores

Here's a throwback to MCPS's PARCC results from in Sept 2018: https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/sharedaccountability/reports/2018/18.09.13%202018%20Final%20PARCC%20Student%20Results.pdf

From 2018: https://wtop.com/maryland/2018/08/2018-parcc-scores-top-scoring-maryland-school-systems/

51% of MCPS 3-8 students demonstrated proficiency in ELA standards. 44% of MCPS 3-8 students demonstrated proficiency in math standards.

As I stated: The proficiency problems in MCPS PRECEDE MCAP. Blaming the test does not work because the proficiency levels weren't great on state-tests that preceded MCAP and they've continued to NOT be great systemwide for external tests such as SAT/ACT and AP/IB scores.

Pull your head out of the sand and stop blame shifting. MCPS has long had an instructional quality problem.

Because that's the subject of this thread.
-Let's look at PARCC. What was the national proficiency average and state proficiency average at the time? National proficiency average was 32%, State proficiency rate was 38% while MCPS was 51%.
Why did MD and every other state that used to administer the PARCC assessment get rid of it? Because it was a very bad assessment.
-What "ongoing pattern of decreased proficiencies" in SAT/ACT, AP/IB scores are you talking about?
SAT scores are higher, AP scores have never been higher, hovering in the 70s%. 20 out 25 HS made the AP list. Do you have a clue of what you're talking about? What do you get from lying and posting false information? Are you related to the TACO man?


Oh boy. You folks in CO work overtime to justify lackluster performance from MCPS. Even with Taylor admitting that there's rampant grade inflation and acknowledging the decline of the system as outlined in the Bethesda Magazine feature: https://bethesdamagazine.com/2024/10/08/does-mcps-deserve-a-passing-grade/ you still want to defend the system? You're a lost cause.

Anonymous
Post 08/28/2025 19:27     Subject: Only 57% of MCPS students proficient in reading, 36% proficient in math

I've been teaching since we gave MSA back in the 2000's. When we adopted the Common Core State Standards and had to give PARCC, we found that it was significantly harder than MSA. Of course, the CCCSS are also much more challenging than the old Maryland Voluntary State Curriculum standards that we used until about 2010 or 2011.

Having given PARCC and now MCAP, both seem to be the same test with a different name. They are identical in format and the standards that they assess.

The challenge is that when we teach, we no longer have time to teach the fundamentals like we did before CCSS. Now, we throw our primary students into complex tasks without a solid foundation. It's like trying to build a house but starting with the roof.
Anonymous
Post 08/28/2025 19:06     Subject: Only 57% of MCPS students proficient in reading, 36% proficient in math

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My kid did terrible at the MCAP. Just average scores. She is however 99th on MAP-R. Testing and knowledge are two different things.


Oh interesting. I wonder how common this is? Not this exact disparity (99th percentile MAP kid scoring low on MCAP) but just in general kids being rated as "not proficient" on MCAP despite actually being proficient...


Teachers and administrators have raised concerns about MCAP specifically for a long time. My 99th percentile kid did very well on MCAP for two years, then tanked it one year. What was different? Not the ability (MAP scores remained consistent), and not the effort (my kid is a Hermione Granger type who would die before purposefully throwing a test). Just...a bad day. Maybe she was coming down with something. Maybe she forgot to eat lunch. I have no idea, but it ultimately meant nothing.


It’s hilarious how whenever the test scores are bad, school system defenders will insist there’s something wrong with the test and not the school system. And yet, when the scores are good, the system has no qualms about using them as evidence to crow about how great the system is.

You have no idea of what you're talking about.
MCAP started in 2021 and no school district in MD has done great on it since it started. There have been improvements but no district has done great. No school district has used MCAP as evidence to crow about how great they are. None.
It a bad assessment test. Schools administrators don't like it and students don't care about it. That's why the State had to make it a graduation requirement.
The new state superintendent was supposed to take a review of the MCAP.


You keep talking about MCAP.

My criticisms about the system outcomes are not relegated to just this instance of MCAP. It's talking about the ongoing pattern of decreased proficiencies on a MULTITUDE of assessments including:
- MCAP
- PARCC
- MSA
- EOL
- SAT/ACT scores
- AP/IB scores

Here's a throwback to MCPS's PARCC results from in Sept 2018: https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/sharedaccountability/reports/2018/18.09.13%202018%20Final%20PARCC%20Student%20Results.pdf

From 2018: https://wtop.com/maryland/2018/08/2018-parcc-scores-top-scoring-maryland-school-systems/

51% of MCPS 3-8 students demonstrated proficiency in ELA standards. 44% of MCPS 3-8 students demonstrated proficiency in math standards.

As I stated: The proficiency problems in MCPS PRECEDE MCAP. Blaming the test does not work because the proficiency levels weren't great on state-tests that preceded MCAP and they've continued to NOT be great systemwide for external tests such as SAT/ACT and AP/IB scores.

Pull your head out of the sand and stop blame shifting. MCPS has long had an instructional quality problem.

Because that's the subject of this thread.
-Let's look at PARCC. What was the national proficiency average and state proficiency average at the time? National proficiency average was 32%, State proficiency rate was 38% while MCPS was 51%.
Why did MD and every other state that used to administer the PARCC assessment get rid of it? Because it was a very bad assessment.
-What "ongoing pattern of decreased proficiencies" in SAT/ACT, AP/IB scores are you talking about?
SAT scores are higher, AP scores have never been higher, hovering in the 70s%. 20 out 25 HS made the AP list. Do you have a clue of what you're talking about? What do you get from lying and posting false information? Are you related to the TACO man?