Dear Families of St. Michael School,

We encourage you to speak with your child(ren) about the upcoming MAP assessments and remind them of the importance of doing their personal best. Supporting your child with a good night’s sleep and a healthy breakfast on testing days will help them start off strong and ready to focus. To maximize instructional time throughout the rest of the month, all students in grades K–8 will be participating in MAP testing during the same scheduled days (September 8 - 10). This also allows our school to dedicate full attention and resources to ensuring a smooth and supportive testing experience for all students. MAP Family Reports with your child(ren)’s fall results will be provided at fall conferences on October 8.

What is MAP Growth?

MAP Growth, developed by NWEA®, is a computer-based assessment that adapts in real time to each student’s performance. When a student answers a question correctly, the test presents a more challenging item. If a student answers incorrectly, the next question becomes easier. This adaptive design allows us to pinpoint a student's current level of understanding with accuracy.  The questions are aligned with the Archdiocese of Louisville curriculum, reflecting the content our students are learning in class. MAP Growth assesses core subjects including Reading, Language, and Mathematics, and provides a clear picture of a student’s academic growth over time, both within the school year and across multiple years.  Student performance is reported using RIT scores, which measure learning progress in consistent increments, regardless of grade level. These scores help teachers identify each student's learning needs and guide instructional planning throughout the year. MAP Growth assessments are administered three times annually (fall, winter, spring) across all Catholic elementary schools in Louisville, including St. Michael.  Thank you for your support in this school-wide assessment.  While MAP provides valuable insights into academic progress, we also recognize and celebrate student growth in other meaningful ways.  There is always something positive to recognize in each of our students!  Please feel welcome to reach out to me if you have any questions regarding MAP assessments.

Very Respectfully,

Mrs. Conliffe