A student growth percentile (SGP) is a statistic that shows how much a student has improved in academic skills from one year to the next compared to other students with similar prior test scores. These students are referred to as the student’s “academic peers.” An SGP is a tool for describing a student’s progress toward meeting state standards, and should be considered along with other assessment information.
A Student Growth Percentile is calculated by comparing a student’s current score to the results of other students who have taken previous MCAS assessments in that subject area and grade level. The percentage is a representation of how many students scored higher than or lower than the student, and it is used to measure a student’s performance relative to their academic peers.
For a SGP to be valid, the student must have taken at least two consecutive years of MCAS tests in that same subject and grade level. In addition, the SGP should be based on the same scaled score history for all of the student’s MCAS assessments in that particular subject and grade level. Therefore, if a student’s SGP changes dramatically from one year to the next, it should be interpreted with caution.
SGPs are not a good way to compare students who entered the same school at different times or who have different MCAS scaled score histories. Instead, a more appropriate comparison is to look at a student’s overall progress toward meeting state standards.
The SGP is intended to be a tool that teachers can use in their work with students, providing a more complete picture of the student’s academic skills and learning. It is important to remember that SGPs are only a snapshot of a student’s progress. They can be influenced by factors such as student behavior, classroom environment, and family circumstances.
While the SGP is a useful tool for schools, it is not a substitute for individual teacher observations and discussions. In order to gain a true understanding of how a student is performing in the classroom, it is important for parents and teachers to spend time talking together about the student’s needs and goals.
The SGP is a new measurement that gives us more accurate, timely information about how a student is progressing in his or her studies. This is an important step in ensuring that all students are receiving the support they need to meet high academic expectations. The SGP will also help identify students who are struggling in a subject and need additional support. This is a critical first step in the effort to improve education for all students in Massachusetts. The SGP is an important part of a comprehensive system of assessment and accountability for our students. It will provide valuable data for teachers and parents as they work with their students to achieve a common vision of excellence. The SGP will also allow us to make decisions about how best to support our students.
