Students of the Montgomery County Public Schools continue to make progress on statewide assessments, achieving the highest ever local results on the Maryland School Performance Assessment Program (MSPAP), the highest percentage of graduating seniors in the state participating in a rigorous program in preparation for college, and the lowest dropout rate in Maryland.

The county's improved performance on the MSPAP moved the school system from fifth to fourth place among the state's 24 jurisdictions and maintained the system's position as the highest performing large district in Maryland, according to state and local reports released today [Wednesday, November 29].

In addition to the MSPAP improvements, another report showed that Montgomery County achieved the highest number of students locally taking at least one Advanced Placement (AP) test (4,626), an increase of 32 percent since 1998, and the largest number of AP tests ever taken (8,542), an increase of 40 percent -- while the average score remained nearly the same (3.58).

"These achievements reflect the hard work of students, teachers, and principals," said Dr. Jerry D. Weast, superintendent of schools, in a report to the Board of Education today. "The continuous gains demonstrate the momentum under way among schools as we prepare for continued success on the next round of assessments this spring."

Dr. Weast said the progress echoes earlier reports about student achievement on local and national tests, success in eighth and ninth grade algebra, participation in honors and Advanced Placement (AP) courses, and math scores on the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT).

"While many issues remain to be resolved as we pursue higher standards for all children and seek to close the gap in achievement among some students, there are clear and powerful indicators that the school system is moving rapidly on a course for even greater success," Dr. Weast said.

Students last spring achieved the highest overall composite score for Montgomery County on the MSPAP, moving the school system from fifth to fourth place among Maryland's school districts and maintaining its position as the highest performing large school district in the state. The MCPS 2000 composite (55.4) was fourth highest in the state behind the significantly smaller and more homogenous jurisdictions of Kent County (62.0), Howard County (61.4), and Harford County (55.7).

The MSPAP tests have been administered statewide since 1993. They measure school, district, and state achievement in six content areas reading, writing, language usage, mathematics, science, and social studies.

The overall composite score for the school district for the 1999-2000 school year was 55.4 percent, an increase of 0.6 of a percentage point over the previous year. (The 2000 MCPS composite is impacted slightly by 125 tests that were invalidated because of test administration irregularities. If these students had performed similarly to students in those schools in 1999, the overall county composite would have been 0.2 of a percentage point higher.)

The composite score for fifth grade students this past year increased by 0.6 of a percentage point to 57.6 percent, and the composite for eighth grade students increased by 2.1 percentage points to 58.0. The Grade 3 results declined by 1.1 percentage points to a composite score of 50.5 percent. This decline in Grade 3 emphasizes the need for continued support for all of the early childhood initiatives associated under way this year.

There was little change in the disparity by race/ethnicity or other factors. On average, African American and Hispanic students had a composite score of approximately 34 percent compared to a composite score of approximately 66 percent for white and Asian American students. Females had a higher composite score than males, 60 percent to 51 percent, respectively.

Students receiving special services performed lower than the overall county composite of 55.4 percent. The composite for students receiving Free and Reduced Meals services was 31.5 percent. For LEP students the composite was 30.6 percent. Students receiving less than 15 hours of special education services had a composite of 37.1 percent. Those receiving 15 or more hours of special education services had a composite of 22.6 percent. The number of students receiving special services has increased at a rate well above the gain in enrollment since 1993.

Twenty-five MCPS schools exceeded the state satisfactory standard of 70 percent. This was second to Baltimore County, which had 26 schools. Statewide, 84 schools met this standard. Six of the top 15 schools in the state are in MCPS. Cold Spring Elementary School (85.8 composite) was second in the state. Other MCPS schools in the top 15 were Burning Tree, Darnestown, Farmland, Carderock Springs, and Wayside Elementary Schools.

The improved performance on the MSPAP is consistent with other indicators of continued progress among students on local and national assessments, success in honors and Advanced Placement courses, and completion of the state's indicators of a rigorous education in preparation for college.

Among the findings of the state's assessment program for the 1999-2000 school year are the following highlights:

* Highest composite score (55.4%) on the Maryland School Performance Assessment Program (MSPAP) since 1993, the fourth highest in the state (up from fifth last year) and the highest among Maryland's large school systems.

* Highest elementary school attendance rate (96%), achieving the excellent standard for the first time.

* Highest percentage of graduating seniors in the state (39.9%) successfully completing four or more of the state's indicators of a rigorous high school program.

* Lowest dropout rate (1.71%) since 1993, and the lowest of any district in Maryland.

In addition, other recent information underscores the continuing academic trend:

* Highest number of students taking at least one AP test (4,626), an increase of 32 percent since 1999, and the largest number of AP tests ever taken (8,542), an increase of 40 percent while the average score remained nearly the same (3.58).

* Students scoring well above the national average in reading, language, and mathematics in Grades 2, 4, and 6 on first administration of CTBS. All racial/ethnic groups at or above the national average.

* Highest percentage achieving proficiency on Criterion-Referenced Tests (CRTs) in Grades 3-8 in mathematics (61%) since 1997 and reading (71%) since 1994. Gains made among every racial/ethnic group, except for Hispanic elementary students in reading.

* Highest percentage of Grade 8 students passing Algebra 1 or higher math course (41%) since 1995. Highest rate for each racial/ethnic group.

* Highest percentage of Grade 9 students passing Algebra 1 or higher math course (79%) since 1990. Highest rate for each racial/ethnic group.

* Highest percentage of students enrolled in honors and AP courses (56%) since 1990. Highest percentage for each racial/ethnic group.

* Highest score on SAT in mathematics for MCPS in 27 years (557). Highest participation rate among students in MCPS (80%) since 1973. Highest combined SAT score in Maryland (1093).

"These results are an indication of the true potential of our school system as we continue to focus resources on early childhood education, class-size reductions, and the support necessary for quality teaching and learning in every classroom," Dr. Weast said. "Our goal is to surpass the statewide standards for each and every school."

Additional information is available about the MSPAP results for Montgomery County at the following sites:

(1) The superintendent's report to the Board of Education can found as a PDF file at

(2) The executive summary of the data can be found as a PDF file at the first link below.

(3) The school-by-school data are available at the second link below, which is maintained by the Maryland State Department of Education.