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Naperville 203 reports above-average NWEA MAP growth and stability across student groups
Summary
Assistant Superintendent Patrick Knowlton told the board that District 203’s K–8 NWEA MAP results show the district’s typical student scores in the mid-70s percentile nationally and continued post-pandemic stability, with noted algorithm effects in math scores to be normalized when 2025 norms arrive.
Assistant Superintendent for Assessment and Accountability Patrick Knowlton presented the district’s K–8 NWEA MAP growth results on June 16, summarizing years of data and noting the district’s consistent performance relative to national norms.
Knowlton said district median percentile ranks across grades typically sit in the mid-70s compared with national samples. He described the district’s local median as roughly equivalent to a student at the 75th percentile nationally: "Our typical student functions like a 75th percentile student nationally," he told the board.
Knowlton described a recent change in NWEA’s item-selection algorithm that has inflated mathematics performance at some grades, particularly third and fourth. He said those effects should be leveled out when NWEA releases 2025 post-pandemic norms in July. "That will all be leveled out in July when the 2025 norms are in place," Knowlton said.
The presentation included breakdowns by race/ethnicity and student groups. Knowlton said African American/Black and Hispanic/Latinx student performance shows positive trends, and that economically disadvantaged students and English learners score near national norms. He also described gaps that the district tracks and addresses in school-improvement planning.
Knowlton summarized broader state-level assessment and accountability developments, saying Illinois is considering resetting proficiency cut scores and consolidating performance levels to create more stable, meaningful school identifications in future years.
Nut graf: District 203 reported continued high academic performance on NWEA MAP K–8 measures with above-average growth and stability across most student groups; staff cautioned that a testing algorithm change temporarily boosted math results and that statewide accountability rules are under review.
Board members asked technical questions about norming and adaptive test mechanics; Knowlton explained fall/winter/spring norms and how adaptive tests set starting points based on prior performance.
