Howard County students are scoring at a higher level than their counterparts in other districts, according to the latest Maryland State Assessments.
The 2011 MSA results, released by the Maryland State Department of Education Wednesday, June 29, show that county elementary and middle school students scored above the state average in reading and mathematics.
Across the state, 88 percent of elementary school students scored at the proficient levels in reading, and 83.5 percent at the middle school level. In math, 86.3 percent of elementary students ranked at the proficient levels, as did 73.7 percent of middle schoolers.
But in the county, 94 percent of all elementary school students ranked proficient or advanced in reading, as did 92.6 percent of middle school students, according to information compiled from the MSAs by the Howard school system. In math 92.7 percent of elementary students and 87.3 percent of middle school students ranked at the proficient levels.
In Howard County, 92.2 percent of third-graders, 94.4 percent of fourth-graders, more than 95 percent of fifth-graders, 92 percent of sixth-graders, 92.6 percent of seventh-graders and 93 percent of eighth-graders scored at the advanced or proficient levels in reading, the highest ever for the county.
In math, Howard County students also excelled, with 93 percent of third-graders, 95 percent of fourth-graders, 90.3 percent of fifth- and sixth-graders, 87.8 percent of seventh-graders and 84.1 of eighth-graders scoring advanced or proficient.
"We're very pleased with the scores overall," said Rebecca Amani-Dove, director of student assessment and program evaluation for the county school system. "Our students are performing at higher levels than they ever have before."
The MSA exams in reading and math are given to students in the third through eighth grade, and the results are ranked in the categories of basic, proficient and advanced. The federal No Child Left Behind Act requires all students be at least proficient in reading and math by 2014.
"Howard County's goal is to support every single student in their academic success," Amani-Dove said. "Our scores are very high and we're approaching that 100 percent."
At a news conference June 29, State Superintendent Nancy Grasmick noted that while Maryland schools continued to make gains in the scores from year to year, the increments of those increases were getting smaller and more difficult to attain. Amani-Dove agreed.
"As you approach 100 percent proficiency, you're going to have smaller increases each year, but we're continuing to see increases and we're continuing to work with every student to ensure they succeed," Amani-Dove said.
With the smaller increase increments, a new goal at the state level is taking place.
"We're interested now in getting (students) from proficient to advanced," said Leslie Wilson, assistant state superintendent for the division of accountability, assessment and data systems.
The 2011 data represent not only increased scores in Howard County, but across the state as well. Elementary reading scores have increased 26 points since 2003, and math is up 26.3 points. At the middle school level, reading scores are up 23.6 points in the last eight years, and math scores have increased 34 points.
In a statement, Gov. Martin O'Malley stated this year's results demonstrate progress being made in the country's top-ranked public schools.
"Thanks to the hard work and commitment of our educators, students and parent, we can sustain and build upon the gains we've made for every student and every school in Maryland," he said.
The MSA results also are used to measure schools' Adequate Yearly Progress. Schools achieve AYP if their total student population, including all student groups with five or more students, such as those receiving free and reduced meals or special education services, meet a set target for participation and proficiency on the MSA.
Amani-Dove said that while AYP does get more difficult to achieve as the system nears 100 percent proficiency, in Howard County, 49 of the 58 elementary and middle schools met AYP for this year.
A release from the school system listed schools identified for local attention. Cradlerock School, Dunloggin Middle, Elkridge Landing Middle, Fulton Elementary, Harper's Choice Middle, Running Brook Elementary and Swansfield Elementary did not meet proficiency targets and must focus efforts on the individual needs of students in the missed-target areas.
If schools fail to make their target goal in one or more areas for two consecutive years, they are placed on school improvement. Mayfield Woods Middle and Wilde Lake Middle are in the first year of school improvement. Oakland Mills Middle, which moved from year two of improvement to corrective action last year, met AYP in 2011. If the school makes AYP again next year, it will exit the school improvement plan.
According to the release, Jeffers Hill and Veterans elementary schools and Murray Hill Middle School made AYP in 2011 and are no longer identified as needing local attention.