FCPS ranked in the top quartile in math and English/Language Arts (ELA) at all levels in the 2026 Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program results released by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) July 28.
FCPS students outperformed the state average by 7-14 percentage points in math and 11-15 percentage points in ELA.
“Our achievement results reflect what is possible when an entire community remains united around a single purpose: ensuring every student experiences exceptional teaching and meaningful learning every day,” FCPS Superintendent Dr. Cheryl L. Dyson said. “While we celebrate progress, we know our greatest strength lies in our commitment to continuous improvement and our belief that all students can achieve at the highest levels.”
Some three-year trend highlights (2024-2026):
- A 2 percentage point gain in ELA, including a 6-point gain in grade 3 and a 5-point gain in grades 7 and 10.
- A 6 percentage point gain in math.
- Improvement occurred at every grade band in each subject area.
“FCPS has a comprehensive plan to monitor data in the year ahead, including school by school data, system patterns across grade levels and content standards, and student group performance,” said Dr. Jamie Aliveto, FCPS Chief of Schools and Accountability. “No matter the metric, we have systems and processes in place to ensure students progress in their learning journey; we’ll be ready for the new Maryland state assessment coming our way this year.”
Maryland is replacing MCAP with the Maryland System of Testing Academic Readiness (MSTAR) in the 2026-2027 school year. MSTAR has a multi-stage adaptive format that provides a more precise measure of student academic performance in less time than the MCAP. A parent portal will provide access to student reports and resources designed for parents and guardians.
The full MCAP results have been posted online at https://reportcard.msde.maryland.gov/ under the MCAP tab.