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State recognizes Pershing Middle School for "Most-Improved" MAP Scores
April 15, 2002
Pershing Middle School was among 275 public schools in Missouri recognized for achieving the greatest gains in the percentage of students scoring at the proficient or advanced levels on the state's mandatory MAP tests.
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education released its annual lists of "Top 10 Most-Improved Schools" Friday, April 12. The report consists of 36 separate "Top 10 lists" because it covers four subject areas, three grade levels, and three school-size categories (based on student enrollment).
Pershing, the only Springfield school named to the list, was recognized for improvement in the area of 7th grade communication arts.
Principal Kim Finch said an emphasis on instruction and achievement has helped her students make consistent improvements on their MAP scores. "We place a lot of emphasis on writing in seventh grade," explained Principal Kim Finch. "We also make it a goal each year to improve the previous year's MAP scores by 3 percent."
The report cites schools that achieved the greatest net gain in the percentage of students who scored at the top two levels on the MAP tests between the time each subject-area exam became mandatory and last year (2001). Previously, the report looked only at gains from the previous year.
The report analyzes test scores in math, science, social studies and communication arts at the elementary, middle and high school levels.