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Allegany County reports mixed MCAP gains; graduation rate highest since 2020
Summary
Supervisor Trina Simpson told the board the district exceeded the state average in 15 of 21 MCAP-tested areas, reported a 4-point improvement in the graduation rate and highlighted attendance and subgroup gaps.
Trina Simpson, ACPS supervisor of assessments, presented the district's spring 2024-25 MCAP results to the Allegany County Board of Education on Sept. 9, saying the district exceeded state proficiency averages in 15 of 21 tested areas and posted its highest graduation rate since 2020.
Simpson told the board the district surpassed the state in six of seven English language arts (ELA) areas, six of nine math areas, two of three science areas and one of two social studies areas. Combined ELA proficiency across the district was reported at 53.0 percent versus the state's 50.8 percent. Simpson also said the district's combined math proficiency was 2.3 percentage points above the state average.
The presentation noted the district ranked 12th of 24 counties on ELA and 10th of 24 on math. Simpson highlighted a 4 percentage-point year-over-year gain in Algebra I proficiency and said the district's graduation rate exceeded the state by 4 percentage points, the highest since 2020.
Simpson cautioned that some high-school-level tests remain below the state average and that middle school proficiency typically drops in the transition years. She said students who scored in the lowest levels were frequently those who are chronically absent and urged greater attendance.
The presentation also called out subgroup gaps: Simpson said there are substantial differences in outcomes by economic status, special education status and gender — including a 21-point gap in ELA 10 proficiency between male and female students reported in the presentation.
Board members asked questions about math instruction, the influence of statewide assessment changes and how the district uses formative assessments such as i-Ready together with MCAP data. Simpson said MCAP is a summative, state-reported snapshot and that the district combines it with local screeners and formative measures to guide instruction and school improvement planning.
No board action was taken on the report; Simpson invited board members and the public to review more detailed school-level graphs and cohort trending slides she said were available after the presentation.
