The Maryland State Department of Education released its preliminary determinations today of Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) based on the 2005 Maryland School Assessment of elementary and middle schools.

The preliminary data are positive for all elementary schools in Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), with 117 out of 125 meeting AYP. Broad Acres Elementary School, in particular, achieved AYP for the third consecutive year, a tremendous achievement in addressing the intense challenges of poverty and limited English proficiency that only a few years ago had placed the school in serious academic peril.

At the middle school level, the preliminary data show that 19 of 36 middle schools made AYP this year. The data reflect the ongoing challenges identified in the recent MCPS middle school audit and underscore the importance of moving ahead with targeted improvements in these grades. A summary of the efforts to improve middle schools is attached to this release.

It is important to point out that the area where schools didn't make AYP most often is special education. Many of the determinations involving special education will be the subject of appeals with the state Department of Education in the coming weeks.

A detailed summary of the preliminary data can be found at the links below.