Strategic-Plan-Final-Spread A - Flipbook - Page 26
26 STRATEGIC PLAN - PHASE 1
PRIORITY 03:
READY FOR HIGH SCHOOL
All Maryland students enter high school on track
to meet the college and career readiness standard
by the end of 10th grade, and are engaged socially,
emotionally, and academically to succeed in
progressively challenging and advanced level
coursework aligned to college and career pathways.
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: GRADE 8 STUDENTS
ASSESSMENT
TAKEN IN
GRADE 8
2017
TESTED
COUNT
2018
TESTED
COUNT
2019
TESTED
COUNT
2021
TESTED
COUNT
MATH 8
37,868
37,471
36,356
31,127
ALGEBRA I
21,156
22,364
21,606
15,676
ALL MATH
ASSESSMENTS
63,425
64,264
64,461
52,909
Note: Assessments for 2021 (school year 2020-2021) were shortened tests and were administered in Fall 2021. The category ‘All Math Assessments’ includes
Math 8, Algebra I, 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.