So why would a school ask current graders to retake the test from 7th grade? Admin told students they are asking every kid that scored below 750 in 7th grade to retake it now as a 9th grader. Many of these kids scored as high as 748.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m sure 745 is not a fail.

Passing is 750.

Isn’t that getting a 3 or 4? Not just a pass

There’s nothing on the MCAP report which shows 75 percent getting less than 750 which indicates that below 750 is a fail. It’s a 1 or 2 out of 4 but not labeled a fail.

It’s not a pass fail test.

It may not necessarily be "pass/fail" literally.

But it is the threshold or indicator. Where a 1 or 2 is considered not proficient and a 3 or 4 proficient. So is still 0/1, true/false, pass/fail.

However given the proficiency rates that year, while I'd normally say 749 may have been close but doesn't meet the threshold, for that given year would consider it not bad.

In 7th grade, my student, who at the time had undiagnosed ADHD, received 749, so I recall quite clearly my relief that the test only need be pursued, not overtaken!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m sure 745 is not a fail.

Passing is 750.

Isn’t that getting a 3 or 4? Not just a pass

There’s nothing on the MCAP report which shows 75 percent getting less than 750 which indicates that below 750 is a fail. It’s a 1 or 2 out of 4 but not labeled a fail.

It’s not a pass fail test.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m sure 745 is not a fail.

Passing is 750.

Isn’t that getting a 3 or 4? Not just a pass

^ Take the algebra 1 MCAP in MS.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don’t only the dumb kids take algebra in HS and the rest of the advanced kids not take the assessment? So the sample pool is a self fulfilling prophecy for the ninth graders

No

The PP you replied to said it obnoxiously, but pointed out something that is correct - students who accelerate (and are most talented at math) take the MCAP in middle school. Those who are on level take it in HS. So HS algebra 1 test scores in HS tend to be lower.

Anonymous wrote:Don’t only the dumb kids take algebra in HS and the rest of the advanced kids not take the assessment? So the sample pool is a self fulfilling prophecy for the ninth graders

No

Don’t only the dumb kids take algebra in HS and the rest of the advanced kids not take the assessment? So the sample pool is a self fulfilling prophecy for the ninth graders

I think people are losing sight of the situation here.

First, if OP's child never passed Algebra 1 in a Maryland Public School and passed it either in a private school or out of state/out of the country, then they are exempt from the Algebra test requirement. It's in this COMAR:
https://dsd.maryland.gov/regulations/Pages/13A.03.02.12.aspx

(2) Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Exemption Requirements.

(a) A student who transfers from a nonpublic school or a school out of State is exempt from one or more of the Maryland Comprehensive Assessments if, consistent with local school system policy and procedure, the local superintendent determines that the course taken is aligned with the relevant Maryland Comprehensive Assessment and awards the student credit for taking any of the courses aligned with the Maryland Comprehensive Assessments, that is, algebra, science, English, or government, or all of these, in accordance with the principles set forth in §B(2)(c) of this regulation.

What should have happened is if the STC or registrar saw that the student completed the course at an eligible institution, they should have submitted this student for exemption from the Algebra 1 test requirement. So the student didn't need to be tested in the ninth grade upon entering MCPS.

But the student was tested anyways in ninth grade. And for now and the near future, the graduation requirement is participation only. So the student should be marked as fulfilled, regardless of their score.

What sounds like is going on now is that the school is trying to boost their CCR numbers by having the student meet the proficiency level requirements. And should have nothing to do with their Algebra 1 graduation requirement, which should already be fulfilled.

I'm not really familiar with all of the criteria but the details about CCR are in here:
https://marylandpublicschools.org/stateboard/Documents/CCR-Standard-Policy-Adopted-03-2025-A.pdf

and page 9 lists several alternatives students can use to meet CCR standards starting this year. Some of which are:

-earning at least a 480 in the Reading/Writing and 530 in Mathematics in the SAT or PSAT

-earning a 3 or higher in one AP Math assessment and one ELA/Science/Social Studies assessment

-have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher and have an A, B or C in a higher level math course

If the student is in MV Calc now, I'd imagine they'd be able to meet one of the criteria above. Unless the school is just trying to boost their proficiency rates for mdreportcard.

But either way, if what the OP is saying is accurate, there is no reason why their student needs to retake the Algebra 1 MCAP test and probably never had to take it in the first place.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems fair. Your kid failed the test in 9th despite being in algebra 2, suggesting he was being pushed along but not learning adequately. and there wasn't an opportunity to retest until 12th.

https://support.mdassessments.com/resources/reporting/MCAP-Cut%20Scores.pdf

Beware of hyper acceleration, parents.

In theory I agree with you. Where if a student has a firm foundation in something they should be able to pass any sort of test that covers the material.

In reality though curriculum teaches towards the test.

That first year of the MCAP, the proficiency rate for the MCAP was like 50 percent and a lot of people across the state joked that they were going to lose their jobs due to the low numbers.

I think they've since adjusted the test and also the curriculum, which is why the numbers are better than when it first came out.

If the OP's student is a 12th grader now and took the test in 9th grade, that might've been around the time they rolled out the MCAP. And OP's student took Algebra in 7th grade, so took it two years previously and not sure when during the school year they took the MCAP. ie if they tested in the winter before they completed Algebra 2 and even then Algebra 2, may not have prepared them for the Algebra 1 test.

I would generally agree. It's easy to forget math skills. Excpet that as a senior, the kid has surely taken the SAT fairly recently, and that requires all of this material so it should be pretty fresh. OP--I'd suggest reaching out to the math chair and telling them that you're concerned because you heard that the MCAP tests specific processes for answering questions (a la curriculum 2.0) and could you get a practice test. With luck, the teacher will see the absurdity of it and find a way to waive it. (For instance, some of the tests (like US Govt) are waivable with a certain scores on the AP test. So they may waive if your kid has a certain SAT score or something like that. If not, have the look through the practice test to make sure they remember all that stuff and just bite the bullet and take it. It's a requirement.

It has to do with the state report card and stats. The class of 2026 had to take MCAP, not pass it with a minimum score.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is a senior and almost everyone failed the algebra 1 MCAP over covid. At my kids' MS I think only 10% passed. So typical MCPS still moved everyone along and waived the requirement.

Looking at mdreportcard, other then the comment that MCPS moved everyone along, this comment kind of tracks:

https://reportcard.msde.maryland.gov/Graphs/#/Assessments/MathPerformance/UALG01/U/6/3/1/15/XXXX/2023

Current 12th graders were 9th graders in 2023. And the state proficiency rate for Algebra 1 was 17.2 percent. While the proficiency rate for MCPS was 22.2 percent.

The decision to not make the MCAP the requirement comes from the state, not MCPS.

And the MCAP can be used as an indicator or tool. But the factors behind it and what it really means need to be taken into account too. Those early years of the MCAP scores shouldn't be used as an indicator of the student's knowledge of the subject matter. Especially if OP's kid took Algebra 1 two years prior.

Or, we should look at how the classes are taught. The teachers have textbooks and many refuse to use them and don't cover all the material.

The 2023 proficiency rates by state, county and MCPS schools are below sorted in descending order. So the low Algebra 1 proficiency rates that year was not just a MCPS thing.

School Name Assessment Proficient Pct
All Maryland Schools Algebra 1 17.2

All Howard Schools Algebra 1 38.2
All Anne Arundel Schools Algebra 1 27.3
All Worcester Schools Algebra 1 27.3
All Garrett Schools Algebra 1 26.8
All Frederick Schools Algebra 1 25.9
All Washington Schools Algebra 1 25.6
All Allegany Schools Algebra 1 25.1
All Carroll Schools Algebra 1 22.2
All Montgomery Schools Algebra 1 22.2
All Calvert Schools Algebra 1 21.5
All Saint Mary's Schools Algebra 1 19.9
All Harford Schools Algebra 1 17.7
All Queen Anne's Schools Algebra 1 17.6
All Cecil Schools Algebra 1 14.5
All Charles Schools Algebra 1 14.1
All Talbot Schools Algebra 1 13.9
All Wicomico Schools Algebra 1 11.5
All Caroline Schools Algebra 1 11.2
All Somerset Schools Algebra 1 8.2
All Baltimore County Schools Algebra 1 7.4
All Prince George's Schools Algebra 1 7.4
All Dorchester Schools Algebra 1 6.8
All Kent Schools Algebra 1 6.6
All Baltimore City Schools Algebra 1 6.4
All SEED Schools Algebra 1 <= 5.0


------------------------------
School Name Assessment Proficient Pct
Thomas W. Pyle Middle Algebra 1 72.3
Robert Frost Middle School Algebra 1 71.2
Takoma Park Middle Algebra 1 70.0
North Bethesda Middle Algebra 1 54.8
John H. Poole Middle Algebra 1 53.5
Herbert Hoover Middle Algebra 1 52.9
Westland Middle Algebra 1 50.6
Cabin John Middle Algebra 1 48.7
John T. Baker Middle School Algebra 1 48.3
Julius West Middle Algebra 1 46.9
Sligo Middle Algebra 1 46.7
Silver Creek Middle Algebra 1 41.6
Rocky Hill Middle Algebra 1 41.2
Roberto W. Clemente Middle Algebra 1 40.4
Kingsview Middle Algebra 1 38.2
Silver Spring International Middle Algebra 1 36.6
Tilden Middle Algebra 1 36.3
Earle B. Wood Middle Algebra 1 36.3
Lakelands Park Middle Algebra 1 35.8
Martin Luther King Jr. Middle Algebra 1 34.3
Montgomery Village Middle Algebra 1 32.4
Redland Middle Algebra 1 31.5
Eastern Middle Algebra 1 30.7
Ridgeview Middle Algebra 1 29.9
Hallie Wells Middle Algebra 1 26.4
Neelsville Middle Algebra 1 26.0
Rosa M. Parks Middle Algebra 1 23.5
Gaithersburg Middle Algebra 1 23.4
Winston Churchill High Algebra 1 22.7
Newport Mill Middle Algebra 1 22.6
Parkland Middle Algebra 1 21.2
Shady Grove Middle Algebra 1 20.5
Odessa Shannon Middle Algebra 1 19.1
William H. Farquhar Middle Algebra 1 18.9
Briggs Chaney Middle Algebra 1 18.5
Francis Scott Key Middle Algebra 1 18.0
Thomas S. Wootton High Algebra 1 16.2
Forest Oak Middle Algebra 1 13.2
Argyle Middle Algebra 1 12.9
Walt Whitman High Algebra 1 12.1
Northwest High Algebra 1 10.1
John L Gildner Regional Inst for Children & Adol Algebra 1 10.0
Benjamin Banneker Middle Algebra 1 9.6
Poolesville High Algebra 1 8.8
Bethesda-Chevy Chase High Algebra 1 8.6
Sherwood High Algebra 1 6.9
Montgomery Blair High Algebra 1 6.6
Richard Montgomery High Algebra 1 6.3
Walter Johnson High Algebra 1 5.7
Rockville High Algebra 1 5.4
Seneca Valley High Algebra 1 <= 5.0
Quince Orchard High Algebra 1 <= 5.0
Clarksburg High Algebra 1 <= 5.0
Paint Branch High Algebra 1 <= 5.0
James Hubert Blake High Algebra 1 <= 5.0
Col. Zadok Magruder High Algebra 1 <= 5.0
Watkins Mill High Algebra 1 <= 5.0
Gaithersburg High Algebra 1 <= 5.0
Damascus High Algebra 1 <= 5.0
Wheaton High Algebra 1 <= 5.0
A. Mario Loiederman Middle Algebra 1 <= 5.0
Albert Einstein High Algebra 1 <= 5.0
Northwood High Algebra 1 <= 5.0
Springbrook High Algebra 1 <= 5.0
White Oak Middle Algebra 1 <= 5.0
John F. Kennedy High Algebra 1 <= 5.0
College Gardens Elementary Algebra 1 *
Alternative Programs Algebra 1 *
Thomas Edison High School of Technology Algebra 1 *

Anonymous wrote:My kid is a senior and almost everyone failed the algebra 1 MCAP over covid. At my kids' MS I think only 10% passed. So typical MCPS still moved everyone along and waived the requirement.

Looking at mdreportcard, other then the comment that MCPS moved everyone along, this comment kind of tracks:

https://reportcard.msde.maryland.gov/Graphs/#/Assessments/MathPerformance/UALG01/U/6/3/1/15/XXXX/2023

Current 12th graders were 9th graders in 2023. And the state proficiency rate for Algebra 1 was 17.2 percent. While the proficiency rate for MCPS was 22.2 percent.

The decision to not make the MCAP the requirement comes from the state, not MCPS.

And the MCAP can be used as an indicator or tool. But the factors behind it and what it really means need to be taken into account too. Those early years of the MCAP scores shouldn't be used as an indicator of the student's knowledge of the subject matter. Especially if OP's kid took Algebra 1 two years prior.