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QACPS reports mixed MCAP results; board members press for coordinated strategy
Summary
District staff reported 2024–25 assessment results showing 57% proficiency in ELA (ranked ninth in the state) and 31.6% proficiency in math (ranked eighth); staff highlighted sizable 'cusp' populations near proficiency and said changes in test design complicate year-to-year comparisons.
The Queen Anne's County Board of Education on Oct. 1 received a data presentation summarizing 2024–25 Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) and other assessment results.
Jennifer Schreckengost, interim assistant superintendent, said English language arts proficiency in grades 3–8 and 10 sits near 57% overall and that the district ranked ninth in Maryland and second on the Eastern Shore. Math proficiency was presented at about 31.6% (eighth in the state). Schreckengost emphasized 'cusp' students—those within 10 points of proficiency—and said including those students would materially raise the district’s reported proficiency percentages.
Board members and staff cautioned that year-to-year comparisons are complicated by state test changes and noted that the math test’s adaptive design means students do not all take identical item sets. Several board members asked whether making assessments count toward grades (some high school assessments now do) or the adaptive format could affect motivation and scores. Participants discussed aligning district diagnostic data (for example I-Ready) with state scores and ensuring a unified district focus on school-improvement goals.
Schreckengost also reported gains in some high school assessments: biology proficiency increased and government assessments showed improvement. Advanced Placement participation increased (120 more AP exams taken) and the percentage of AP scores of 3 or higher rose by about 4 percentage points.
Board members asked for continued analysis of the data, better year-to-year comparability where possible, and alignment of district interventions with the 'cusp' population identified by accountability staff.
