Student scores are highlighted in orange for the fall. I also highlight some of the important words from this article: (noted in article with ******)
Six Commonly Used MAP Growth Terms Worth Knowing
In any industry, there are terms that get thrown around and it seems like only other industry colleagues have a clue as to what they mean. This is no different in education. This school year students are taking assessments, and in the case of MAP® Growth™, these K – 12 interim assessments are often administered in the fall, winter and spring. Teachers will communicate these results to students and parents and undoubtedly use terms unfamiliar to them. Let’s examine six of the more commonly used terms and what they mean.
*******RIT******
The NWEA MAP Growth test uses a scale called RIT to measure student achievement and growth. RIT stands for Rasch UnIT, which is a measurement scale developed to simplify the interpretation of test scores. The RIT score relates directly to the curriculum scale in each subject area. It is an equal-interval scale, like feet and inches, so scores can be added together to calculate accurate class or school averages. RIT scores range from about 100 to 300. Students typically start at the 180 to 200 level in the third grade and progress to the 220 to 260 level by high school. RIT scores make it possible to follow a student’s educational growth from year to year.
District Average
The average RIT score for all students in the school district in the same grade who were tested at the same time as your child.
Norm Group Average
The average score of students who were in the same grade and tested in the same term as observed in the latest NWEA norming study.
****Percentile Range****
Percentiles are used to compare one student’s performance to that of the norm group. Percentile means the student scored as well as, or better than, that percent of students taking the test in his/her grade. There is about a 68 percent chance that a student’s percentile ranking would fall within this range if the student tested again relatively soon.
****Percentile Rank*****
This number indicates the percentage of students in the NWEA norm group for this grade that this student’s score equaled or exceeded. The percentile rank is a normative statistic that indicates how well a student performed in comparison to the students in the norm group. A student’s percentile rank indicates that the student scored as well as, or better than, the percent of students in the norm group. In other words, a student with a percentile rank of 72 scored as well as, or better than 72 percent of the students in the norm group.
Standards
Standards are statements, developed by states or districts, of what students should know and be able to do, related to specific academic areas.
As teachers, parents, and students discuss MAP Growth results and other assessment data, having a baseline understanding of these terms will help. If a teacher uses terms you’re unfamiliar with, be sure to ask them what they mean. MAP Growth data are used to measure your student’s progress or growth in school and helps teachers develop individualized learning plans to advance your student’s learning.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Joi brings passion, creativity, and a desire to communicate effectively to her role as community engagement manager at NWEA. In what seems like another lifetime, she “herded cats” on various college campuses while also proactively growing her technological skills in SQL, HTML, and web content management systems. Joi received a BA in psychology from Whitworth University and a master’s in higher education leadership from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. When not at work, she enjoys exploring the beauty of the Northwest with her family, though she still hasn’t found mountains that compare to those of her home state, Alaska.
