The Panhandle Elementary School in the small town of Panhandle, Texas, has seen a huge improvement in their state rankings. In fact, since using the MAP Growth interim assessment and MAP Growth K-2, the school moved up 50 places to rank as the 29^th highest-rated elementary school out of 4,000 statewide schools.

Now, with more than 80% of their students meeting proficiency, educational leaders wanted to use MAP Growth assessment data to illuminate the learning needs of their high-performing students and focus on enrichment activities. Over the years, they began to explore other benefits that MAP Growth data could offer. Now they’re using assessment data for these four key needs:

1. Universal Screening. Panhandle began using MAP Growth and MAP Growth K–2 as a screener before classes started in August—to identify Gifted and Talented students and to begin enrichment as soon as the school year started. As Principal Doug Rawlins states:

“If all of your focus is on Tier 3 and that’s where 20% of your kids are, and 80% of your kids are on or above grade level, then your focus is wrong. So we began to pay attention to those high-achieving students.”

2. Differentiating Instruction for Tier 2 and 3 Students. In the process of screening and defining students’ tiers with MAP Growth, the district learned something new from their data. There were instructional needs to be addressed in all grade levels. Panhandle now uses MAP Growth assessment data for differentiated instruction, small group instruction, specific intent instruction, Tier 2 intervention, special education interventions, and tutoring for students performing below grade level.
3. Complimenting Digital Learning Tools. Having an assessment tool that measures performance and growth for each kid enabled the district to see the effectiveness of their digital learning platforms. Today, students spend 20-30 minutes per day with digital tools that integrate with MAP Growth, including Study Island® and Compass Learning® (now Edgenuity). Scores from MAP Growth— including detailed breakdowns of goal and sub-goal areas— are used as a guide for digital learning, so each student is working on their specific area of need.
4. Streamlining Testing. Before using MAP Growth, Panhandle used a multitude of different tests to ensure they didn’t miss a student’s needs. In past years, testing also required the hiring of many substitute teachers to facilitate testing sessions. But MAP Growth has eliminated that need. The district saves on the cost of administering tests, and teachers get back the instructional time lost to multiple testing sessions.

After one spring state assessment, Panhandle Elementary students had a new source of pride: for the first time, 100% of the students in fifth grade were proficient in math and reading. As Superintendent Blair Brown says:

“It takes good principals. It takes great teachers. And we’re fortunate here to have good kids. We are still learning about all the things MAP Growth can do for us, but our teachers have bought in and they love it.”

For more information on MAP Growth and MAP Growth K-2 visit our website. You can also download the complete case study here.