MAP results have been released and naturally, since I have been a middle school communication arts teacher for the past six years, my attention turned to seventh grade communication arts scores.
The Missouri State Department of Elementary and Secondary Education puts MAP scores into five categories. The top scores are advanced, followed by proficient, near proficient, progressing and Step One.
The main figures state officials look at are how many students a school has in the top two categories and how many it has in the bottom two. I examined all of the school districts in Jasper, Newton, Barton, and McDonald counties, except for Westview and Avilla (which I simply forgot and it is nearing 2:30 a.m. so I will have to go back and get them later.)
Schools with the highest percentage of students in the top two categories were:
1. Seneca 43.1
2. Liberal 38.9
3. Carl Junction 38.7
4. Neosho 34.8
5. Joplin 33.0
5. East Newton 33.0
7. Webb City 32.3
8.Carthage 30.9
9. Diamond 29.6
10.Lamar 28.3
11. Sarcoxie 26.9
12. McDonald County 24.3
13. Golden City 16.7
14. Jasper 13.6

Schools having the fewest students in the bottom two areas were:
1. Liberal 22.2
2. Seneca 23.9
3. Carl Junction 26.1
4. East Newton 27.8
5. Webb City 29.5
6. Neosho 30.3
7. Joplin 34.5
7. Jasper 34.5
9. Sarcoxie 37.0
10. Carthage 37.8
11. Diamond 38.9
12. Lamar 39.6
13. McDonald County 47.9
14. Golden City 50.0

Area schools that improved in the top two categories from their 2003 scores were: Carl Junction 5.2 percentage points; East Newton, 4.9; Joplin 1.3; Lamar 11.1; and Neosho 2.5.
Schools with fewer students in the bottom two categories were: Carl Junction 4.7; East Newton 2.0; Joplin 2.2; Lamar 2.8; Liberal 9.4; Neosho 2.3; and Webb City 5.3. Golden City had the same amount of students in the bottom two categories.
I'll try to supply a little more information about the MAP tests later.
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