© 2025 Kansas City Public Radio
NPR in Kansas City
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Missouri MAP Scores Come Out Tuesday, But Do They Mean Anything This Year?

Brad Wilson
/
Flickr-CC

When Missouri releases its standardized test scores, it’s always a tense week for some school districts.

But this year two area districts are both tense and confused.

The confusion for Kansas City Public Schools and the Hickman Mills School District comes because the state changed its standardized tests.

Both districts are provisionally accredited and hoping for full accreditation following this year’s results which will be publicly released Tuesday.

However, the state says because of the change, a year-to-year comparison would be almost useless.

Hickman Mills Superintendent Dennis Carpenter says it’s tough when what they have to teach keeps moving.

“And if the what we teach continues to be a moving target then we struggle in terms of the training we’ve provided, the training we’ve invested in," he says.

Kansas City Public Schools predicts good results and intends to press the state board of education for full accreditation. “So it is a big shift for us as a district, as a community to really understand where this will all end up," says KCPS Chief Academic Officer Vickie Murillo.

This year’s test was aligned with Common Core standards. Missouri lawmakers didn’t like that so the test will change again next year.

As KCUR’s metro reporter, I hold public officials accountable. Are cities spending your tax money wisely? Are police officers and other officials acting properly? I will track down malfeasance by seeking open records and court documents, and by building relationships across the city. But I also need you — email me with any tips at sam@kcur.org, find me on Twitter @samzeff or call me at 816-235-5004.
KCUR prides ourselves on bringing local journalism to the public without a paywall — ever.

Our reporting will always be free for you to read. But it's not free to produce.

As a nonprofit, we rely on your donations to keep operating and trying new things. If you value our work, consider becoming a member.