The proficiency rate of Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) students on the most recent administration of the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) assessments rose in seven of eight tested areas, led by a 10.1 percentage point increase in Algebra I scores.
The Algebra I results move AACPS from ninth among state school systems to second, something Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mark Bedell wants to see in all tested areas. AACPS trails only Howard County in the percentage of Algebra I test-takers who scored proficient. Assessments were administered last spring.
“There is a lot of good news in these results in terms of increased proficiency rates, but we have a tremendous amount of work to do in order to get where we want to be,” Dr. Bedell said. “We talk very openly about the desire to be a great school system. This is a start, but we should be in the top 5 school systems in the state in every category. That is our goal.”
The gains were less notable but still significant in English Language Arts, where proficiency rates rose by 3.2 percentage points in middle and high school, and 0.8 percentage points in elementary school. Elementary school math scores rose by 2.4 percentage points and middle school math scores were up by 2.2 percentage points. Student scores increased by 3.9 percentage points in fifth-grade science but fell by 10.1 percentage points in eighth-grade science.
“Our curriculum audit and strategic plan, both now under way, will address these areas with a laser-like focus so that we can be in a position to move up and move up each and every year,” Dr. Bedell said. “Our new Reveal Math curriculum that will go into place this year and our upcoming work to implement the Science of Reading will be great assets in our work. Additionally, there is tremendous talent, skill, and passion across our school system, and I truly believe we will show sustained incremental but steady growth that will place us among the top school system in Maryland.”
With regard to student groups, 18 elementary schools bested the county average in English Language Arts in three key demographic areas related to closing opportunity gaps: African American students, Hispanic students, and students receiving free and reduced-price meals. Those elementary schools are Benfield, Bodkin, Cape St. Claire, Central, Crofton, Crofton Woods, Edgewater, Fort Smallwood, Four Seasons, Millersville, Nantucket, Oak Hill, Park, Piney Orchard, Ridgeway, Severna Park, Sunset, and Waugh Chapel.
Complete results for the 2022-2023 MCAP assessments can be found here.