MAP Growth Assessments

What is NWEA?

NWEA™ (Northwest Evaluation Association) is a global not-for-profit educational services organization located in Portland, Oregon. NWEA partners with over 3,500 educational organizations worldwide to provide research-based adaptive assessments and professional development. NWEA’s mission is partnering to help all kids learn. As a result of NWEA tests, educators can make informed decisions to promote your child’s academic growth.

What are the adaptive MAP Growth assessments? 

NWEA’s assessments are called MAP Growth (Measures of Academic Progress). The MAP Growth tests are tailored to each student’s current achievement level. They provide each student with a fair opportunity to show what he or she knows and can do. When a student is taking these adaptive tests, the difficulty of each question is based on how well that student answers all the previous questions. As the student answers correctly, questions become more difficult. If the student answers incorrectly, on the other hand, the questions become easier. In an optimal test, a student answers approximately half the items correctly and half incorrectly. The final score is an estimate of the student’s achievement level. 

What subjects does MAP Growth assess?

In the Archdiocese of Boston, students in grades 2-8 are assessed in reading, language usage (better known as grammar) and mathematics. Science and pre-kindergarten through 1st grade are optional. 

What are MAP Growth assessments used for? 

MAP Growth assessments are used to measure your student’s progress or growth in school. You may have a chart in your home on which you mark your child’s height at certain times, such as on his or her birthday. Such a chart shows how much he or she has grown from one year to the next. MAP Growth assessments do the same sort of thing, except they measure your child’s growth in mathematics, reading, language usage, and science skills. The scale used to measure your child’s progress is called the RIT scale. The RIT scale is an equal-interval scale much like feet and inches on a yardstick. It is used to chart your child’s academic growth from year to year.

What is the average score?

RIT scores range from about 140 to 300. Students typically start at the 140 to 190 level in the third grade and progress to the 240 to 300 level by high school. RIT scores make it possible to follow a student’s educational growth from year to year.

How do teachers use the test scores? 

MAP Growth tests are important to teachers because they keep track of progress and growth in basic skills. They let teachers know where a student’s strengths are and whether help is needed in any specific areas. Teachers use this information to help them guide instruction in the classroom. A single test score does not define student success or effective instruction. But assessment data can be incredibly useful to educators, parents and students alike, helping them improve their teaching, mentoring and learning.

Where can I learn more?

Check out the Catholic Schools Office Tech Team's website at https://csotechteam.weebly.com/ to find information on proctoring the test, video tutorials, and other resources.