Assessment & Accountability

Assessment & Accountability Goals

Support teaching and learning so that all students are prepared to graduate College and Career Ready (CCR). This office collects and reviews instructional data to support students, teachers, school leaders, and families. It also serves as the main resource for tracking student achievement using information from local and state assessments.

This office trains principals and school test coordinators, identifies which students must participate in state and federal assessments, oversees all steps of the testing process and provides schools, families and the community with clear explanations of assessment results. Under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), all states must give annual assessments in English language arts/literacy and math to students in grades 3–8, and once in high school. Students are also tested in science once in each grade span: grades 3–5, grades 6–8 and high school. English learners in grades K–12 take a yearly English language proficiency assessment. Maryland law also requires a social studies assessment in middle school, administered in grade 8, and a high school assessment in American Government. The state provides alternate assessments for students who require them. In addition, most kindergarten students take the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA) to help schools understand their early learning needs.

Assessment

The Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) covers state and federally-mandated assessments in English Language Arts/Literacy, Mathematics, Science, Government, and Kindergarten Readiness. MCAP also includes Alternate Assessments for select students. Students are given the assessments in Grades 3-10 during the months of March-May.

Students participate in required tests in four subject areas:

3rd - 8th grade math and Algebra/Data Analysis (or Geometry or Algebra II)
3rd - 8th grade English/Language Arts and English 10
8th grade social studies and American Government (high school)
5th and 8th grade science and Life Science/Biology (high school)

Assessment requirements for graduation:

The following courses have assessment requirements for graduation: Algebra I, English 10/World Literature, American Government, and Biology. Students must participate in the course associated assessments in order to fulfill graduation requirements. Additionally, all students must participate in at least one math and one English/Language Arts assessment during high school, even students who took the Algebra I MCAP in middle school.

Starting in the 2023-2024 school year, the MCAP tests in Government and Biology began transitioning to End of Course assessments (EOC). Beginning with first-time freshmen in the 2023-2024 school year, these EOCs will count for 20% of a student's final transcripted grade for the respective courses.

For more information about MCAP and EOCs, please visit the links below:

MCAP & EOC

MCAP Score Interpretation Guides

MCAP ELA

MCAP Math

Advancement Placement

All students should have the chance to take more challenging academic courses. Advanced Placement (AP) classes offer higher-level content similar to what students would experience in college, and they also provide the opportunity to earn college credit by taking AP exams. While not all colleges and universities award credit for qualifying exam scores, more than 400 institutions do. Because AP courses require more time, effort, and expectations, the grading system is adjusted to match the level of work. AP exams are given in May.

AP Resources:

AP Central & College Board

American College Testing

Credit Recovery / Marking Period Improvement

The Credit Recovery Program allows students to make progress toward graduation by recovering credits for courses previously attempted without a passing grade.

Eligibility and Requirements:
- Students earning a final grade of 50-59% may participate in Standard Credit Recovery.
- Students earning a final grade of 40-49% may participate in Extended Credit Recovery.
- Students earning below 40% do not meet the minimum mastery threshold and must retake the course.
- Students must complete all assignments on Apex and will receive the grade earned upon completion.
- Attendance is mandatory. Students will be removed at 3 absences.
Opportunities
- Students with room in their schedule may be given the opportunity to recover course(s) during the school day.
- Several sessions are offered after school throughout the school year. Each session meets for up to 20 days on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. (approximately).
- Session 1: December 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, January 6, 7, 8,13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29
- Recovery is available in the summer. Students may recover up to 2 credits.
Scheduling and registration:
- Students with eligible failing grades should meet with the school counselor to
- create a plan and register for credit recovery.

Quarterly Grade Improvement

The Quarterly Grade Improvement Program provides students with an opportunity to raise a failing quarterly grade (59% or below) to a maximum grade of 60%.

Eligibility and Requirements:
- Available to students earning a failing grade in the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd marking period.
- A quarterly grade can only be improved in the next marking period. For example, a first quarter grade may be improved in the second quarter, but not later.
- Quarterly grade improvement applies only to core academic subjects.
- Quarterly work will be offered through Apex for all core classes, including math. All quarterly work must be completed to improve the grade. A maximum of 60% is allowed for grade improvement.
Scheduling:
- Improvement opportunities may be offered during the school day (based on staff and scheduling availability) or during after-school sessions. Dates will be announced soon.
Process:
- The school counselor will complete the student registration for eligible students willing to take advantage of this opportunity.

PSAT

The Preliminary SAT, also known as the PSAT or PSAT/NMSQT® (National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test), is a practice version of the SAT exam. Students can take the PSAT once per year in October for students in grades 10 & 11. Students who earn a high score on the PSAT/NMSQT as 11th graders could qualify to receive a National Merit Scholarship.

For more information: https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt

SAT

The SAT assesses student academic readiness for college and is used for admission by colleges and universities. It tests knowledge of Critical Reading, Writing, and Mathematics. The SAT is not only used as an admission standard by many colleges and universities, but it also connects students with available scholarship funds. If students have already taken an SAT test, it never hurts to take the test again. Many colleges now "superscore" which allows students to submit their highest sub-scores from multiple SAT tests. SAT scores do not expire, so even if students are not planning on enrolling in college immediately, they should participate in the test so that they have an SAT score available if they should need it in the future.

For more information about the SAT: https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat.

The keys to successful preparation include making a plan to get the most out of your study time, setting realistic goals, targeting the areas where you have room for improvement, and practicing. The easiest way to do all this is through free official SAT Practice at Khan Academy. This practice provides guided practice that's personalized to you.

Accountability

The Maryland Report Card: Maryland's Accountability System

What is an accountability system?

Maryland’s accountability system measures school and local education agency performance. It provides information to educators, parents, and the public about each school and paves the way for improvement. Through a strong accountability system, stakeholders gain an understanding of how schools are doing and where support is needed in order for those schools to perform better.

What does the Maryland Report Card include?

1. Indicators of school performance:

Student achievement and growth on state tests in English Language Arts and mathematics; student achievement on state tests in science (elementary and middle schools); student access to and credit for a well-rounded curriculum; graduation rate (high schools); progress of English learner students in achieving English language proficiency; student readiness for postsecondary success (high schools); and school quality and student success (including measures of chronic absenteeism and a school survey).

2. Information about schools throughout the State:

Users can view the Report Card for any school and local education agency in the state. The Report Card website also has additional information and data about the performance of Maryland public schools.

Explore the '24-'25 Maryland Report Cards

MSDE State Report Card

MSDE District Report Card

Explore the '24-'25 ACPS School Report Cards

Elementary Schools

Need Help Understanding How Report Cards are Calculated? Visit the Calculating Accountability Results for Elementary Schools

Beall Elementary

Bel Air Elementary

Cash Valley Elementary

Cresaptown Elementary

Flintstone Elementary

Frost Elementary

George's Creek Elementary

John Humbird Elementary

Mt. Savage Elementary

Northeast Elementary

Parkside Elementary

South Penn Elementary

West Side Elementary

Westernport Elementary

Middle Schools

High Schools

Trina Simpson

Supervisor of Assessment & Accountability

[email protected]

Trina Simpson works with the Academics, Special Education, Student Services and Information Technology departments to ensure students receive targeted instruction and have access to effective classroom technology.

She serves as the main point of contact between Allegany County Public Schools and the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) on all matters related to test administration and test security.