K-12 Math Education in Maryland

The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly affected school education in Maryland. According to preliminary data released by the state education department in December 2021, the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program, being the first Maryland standardized school test since the start of the pandemic, witnesses a dramatic drop in student achievement scores; only 15% of Maryland’s public school students passed the math assessment. This is the highest single-year drop on any state tests given in the last twenty years.

Evaluation of Math Proficiency through the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP)

Last year, the Maryland State Board of Education replaced the Partnership of Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) with the new Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP). The state administered all students in Grade 3 through Grade 8 and high school in reading and math. According to a statement made by the former State Superintendent of Schools Karen B. Salmon, the sole purpose of this assessment program is to provide teachers and families a reliable way of understanding how students are progressing on their grade-level standards. The scores of this assessment do not affect student grades or graduation requirements.

The Response of Students to MCAP

The state of Maryland has been witnessing a continuous decline in math proficiency of K-12 students since 2015. In 2019, the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Career test results highlighted the continued failure of schools to teach mathematics to students effectively. Overall, only 33% of students in grades three through eight passed the PARCC math tests.

With the COVID-19 quarantine restrictions, things have gotten even worse for students. The psychological and social impact of COVID-19 on students has been stressful. The prolonged school closure in Maryland has resulted in poor performance of students in mathematics, mirroring a nationwide trend of academic loss. Thousands of students could not get through the MCAP test for mathematics in 2021. To be precise, only 15% of students passed the math assessment.

School District Performance in Maryland

Here is a list of the top 15 school districts in Maryland. These rankings are based on graduation rates, state test scores, college readiness, SAT/ACT scores, quality of teaching, public school district ratings, and more.

While it is still not predictable that the score of the state’s new comprehensive assessment program will improve in the future, a specialized math enrichment program can assist students with closing learning gaps in mathematics and beyond.

MathProject uses a proven curriculum and a unique learning model that enriches our students’ understanding of core math concepts. Now, you don’t need a math tutoring program to strengthen your child’s math knowledge. Our math enrichment program is available for K-12 students in all major cities of Maryland such as Baltimore, Annapolis, Columbia, Germantown, Waldorf, Silver Spring, Frederick, Ellicott City, Ocean City, Bethesda, Glen Burnie, Hagerstown, Rockville, Gaithersburg, and Salisbury.

Contact us today at 1-844-628-4243 to book a free assessment! For more information on how MathProject differs from other math programs, visit our blog.

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Citations

First Maryland standardized school tests since start of pandemic see dramatic drop in student achievement scores — www.baltimoresun.com
State Board of Education to Delay Standardized Tests Until Fall — https://conduitstreet.mdcounties.org
Standardized tests are a go, but Maryland scales them back amid pandemic — www.washingtonpost.com
Maryland PARCC scores: Math results worst since 2015, though English scores see bump — www.baltimoresun.com
First Maryland standardized school tests since start of pandemic see dramatic drop in student achievement scores — www.baltimoresun.com
2022 Best School Districts in Maryland — www.niche.com