MarylandTransforms-StrategicPlanGuidebook - Flipbook - Page 36
36 MARYLAND TRANSFORMS - STRATEGIC PLAN
DEEP DIVE INTO THE PRIORITY
READY FOR HIGH SCHOOL
Scientists have long known that the human brain develops more rapidly in the first five
years of life. But recent advances in brain imaging have revealed that a second spurt
occurs in early adolescence, a phase generally defined as spanning ages 11 to 14. A
growing body of research indicates that the middle grades are the “make it or break it”
years when many students begin to disengage from school, increasing the likelihood
of dropping out of high school.
A Maryland student’s learning experiences in the middle grades is a selection of
classes they go through in a day. If they experience inconsistent expectations across
those classes, they and the school will struggle to achieve high outcomes.
A strong research base for effective instructional practices in the middle grades does
exist. Providing research-based instruction that enhances learning in the middle
grades is critical for Maryland students’ success in high school and beyond.
MATH PERCENT PROFICIENCY STATEWIDE: GRADE 8 STUDENTS
MARYLAND STATEWIDE:
ASSESSMENTS TAKEN IN GRADE 8
YEAR
MATH 8
ALGEBRA I
ALL MATH
ASSESSMENTS
2017
37,868
21,156
63,425
2018
37,471
22,364
64,264
2019
36,356
21,606
64,461
2021
31,127
15,676
52,909
2022
41,265
17,185
67,082
Note: Assessments for 2021 (SY 2020-2021)
were shortened tests and were administered in
Fall 2021. The category ‘All Math Assessments’
includes Math 8, Algebra I and II, and Geometry.
In Maryland grade 8 students taking the grade 8 math test have been trending down over time. Students taking a high school math test in
middle school, although consistent before the pandemic, also declined in 2021.