FCPS students performed above state average in all subjects and grade levels, according to the 2023 Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) results for Math, English/Language Arts and Science.
The results, released by the Maryland State Department of Education last week, showed that FCPS ranked consistently ranked in the top quartile in Maryland with year-over-year improvement in almost all subjects and grade levels.
“We are pleased with the latest MCAP results, but we know there is room for improvement,” said Dr. Jamie Aliveto, FCPS Chief of Schools and Accountability. “We are committed to continuous improvement as a district and are focused on helping every student achieve at high levels.”
Some highlights:
Elementary results
- 57 percent of test-takers achieved a proficient or distinguished score on the ELA assessment – 6-12 percentage points above the state average.
- Elementary math scores improved by 3-7 percentage points, depending upon grade level.
- FCPS ranked third in the state on the Maryland Integrated Science assessment results.
Middle School results
English Language Arts scores increased by 5-7 percentage points. Math scores improved 3-4 percentage points.
High School results
76 percent of test takers scored proficient or distinguished on the English 10 assessment – an improvement of 7 percentage points from last year’s data.
A substantial percentage of students scored just below the proficiency score cutoff and are considered on the cusp of proficiency on many assessments. FCPS, like districts across the state, are facing achievement gaps for students receiving special services, including those with special needs, multilingual students, and students who receive free or reduced meals.
The district maintains a commitment to using data from a variety of sources, including local assessment measures, to evaluate student progress in our schools. The only assessment with lower student performance from prior years was eighth grade Science, which mirrors results from other districts in Maryland. The 8th grade Maryland Integrated Science Assessment (MISA) is a comprehensive assessment of content from grades 6-8.