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Chappaqua presents assessment data: MAP growth strong; state tests and life-science Regents prompt focused follow-up
Summary
District officials presented NWEA MAP and New York State assessment results showing strong elementary growth, notable fifth-grade gains, rising AP participation and scores, while the new life-science biology Regents and some middle-school ELA patterns prompted targeted follow-up.
The Chappaqua Central School District presented a comprehensive assessment report covering NWEA MAPs, New York State 3'8 assessments, Regents exams, Advanced Placement results and college matriculation during the board meeting.
Assessment presenter Adam summarized MAP growth, noting marked early-grade increases and substantial year-to-year gains in fifth grade after structural changes to fifth-grade instruction. Adam said district MAP data show steady cohort growth in math and pronounced gains in grades 1'5, and he described MAP as an adaptive assessment the district uses to track individual student growth throughout the year.
The report identified an apparent flattening in seventh-grade ELA MAP scores for multiple years. Adam said the district will investigate whether the trend reflects curriculum sequencing, instructional practice, personnel variables, or student subgroup performance, and he described the analytic steps the district uses to probe causes: reviewing prior-year data, comparing across schools and staff, examining subcategory scores and checking personnel changes.
On New York State assessments, the district reported high percent-proficient rates across grades in ELA and math compared with statewide averages. Adam said the state's ELA and math tests assess only grade-level standards and therefore provide different information than MAP. The district plans to release individual state reports to parents as uploaded to the parent portal.
The board discussed the May 2025 life-science/biology Regents exam, which new statewide content appeared to make more demanding than the previous living-environment Regents. Adam said mean scores dropped and many students received lower point totals even where pass rates remained near prior levels; district staff recommended options for students who did not pass the new biology exam, including summer review, taking the living-environment Regents where available, elective life-science courses in ninth grade and retakes. The district reported it taught an updated NGSS-aligned life science biology curriculum in 2024 and that, in hindsight, offering the older living-environment sequence as an option during the curriculum transition would have reduced risk.
Board members said that although the district should not "teach to the test," the new exam's reading-heavy items and alignment differences require clear communication to families about course selection and pathways. Superintendent Dr. Ackerman and board members asked administrators to provide parents and counselors with guidance ahead of next year's enrollment decisions.
Advanced Placement participation rose substantially and aggregate AP scores improved, the report said; the district also reported strong National Merit results and high college matriculation. Adam and board members noted increases in AP seminar, research, macroeconomics and other offerings as drivers of the AP exam count and commended faculty for performance gains.
The board directed that targeted follow-up work continue: curriculum teams will probe the flat seventh-grade ELA MAP trend, the district will develop family-facing guidance about high-school Regents course choices given assessment transitions, and a reading fellowship and high-school English faculty cohort will examine Regents preparedness and curriculum alignment.
