Guide to Interpreting MAP Results

North Side scholars outperform their peers year after year on Missouri’s annual standardized testing, known as MAP testing. Our MAP results are one strong piece of evidence illustrating that scholars are learning above and beyond expectations at North Side.

Due to the pandemic there were no state standardized tests in 2020. The charts below offer visual proof of the outstanding performance of North Side scholars in 2019 compared to nearby public schools (top chart), their peers* at elementary schools in St. Louis County’s top-performing district (middle), and other top-performing charter schools in St. Louis (bottom).

North Side Community School’s (NSCS) Missouri Assessment Program Performance Index (MPI) scores highlight its position currently as a mid-tier performer among St. Louis charter schools while consistent outperformance compared to St. Louis Public Schools (SLPS). Here’s a detailed analysis:

ELA Performance

All Students

• North Side Community School (350.7) outperformed SLPS (333.8) by 16.9 points, indicating stronger overall performance in English Language Arts (ELA).
• NSCS ranked 8th out of 14 schools, outperforming SLPS and several other charter schools like Lift for Life Academy (324.0) and The Leadership School (318.0).
• Top-performing schools, such as Lafayette Preparatory Academy (434.0) and The Soulard School (405.8), set a high benchmark, revealing room for NSCS to improve its overall ELA performance.

Student Group

• NSCS (355.0) scored higher than SLPS (320.5) by 34.5 points, demonstrating its strength in instruction and interventions for specific student groups.
• NSCS ranked 6th out of 14 schools, surpassing other charter schools like Lift for Life Academy (323.8) and KIPP St. Louis (328.5).
• The school’s stronger performance with student groups highlights its ability to move students from “below basic” or “basic” levels to “proficient” or “advanced,” which carries more weight in the MPI calculation.

Math Performance

All Students

• NSCS (320.9) outperformed SLPS (300.8) by 20.1 points, reflecting stronger performance in math instruction compared to SLPS.
• NSCS ranked 6th out of 14 schools, outperforming charter schools like Momentum Academy (316.9) and Premier Charter School (316.5), as well as SLPS, which ranks near the bottom.
• Top-performing schools like Lafayette Preparatory Academy (417.7) and Gateway Science Academy (380.9) outpace NSCS significantly, revealing areas for growth.

Student Group

• NSCS (320.5) outscored SLPS (284.8) by 35.7 points, further widening the gap compared to the “All Students” category.
• NSCS ranked 5th out of 14 schools, showing a strong focus on improving math outcomes for targeted groups.
• This reflects NSCS’s ability to address the harder challenge of moving students from “below basic” and “basic” levels to higher achievement levels.

How NSCS Compares to SLPS

1. Better Overall Performance:

   • NSCS consistently outperforms SLPS in both ELA and Math, with significant gaps for both “All Students” and “Student Groups.”
   • The difference in scores is particularly notable for student groups, where NSCS outperforms SLPS by 34.5 points in ELA and 35.7 points in Math.

2. Effective Targeted Interventions:

   • The wider performance gap in Student Group scores shows NSCS excels at implementing effective strategies for students requiring additional support, a critical area where SLPS struggles.

3. Focus on Hard-to-Reach Students:

   • SLPS faces greater challenges in lifting students from “below basic” and “basic” levels to higher levels, reflected in its lower MPI scores. NSCS demonstrates stronger results in this area, likely due to its smaller class sizes and individualized instruction.

4. Math as a Strength:

   • NSCS demonstrates particularly strong performance in Math compared to SLPS, out-scoring it by 20.1 points in All Students and 35.7 points in Student Groups. This indicates effective numeracy interventions that could serve as a model for SLPS.

5. Competitive Alternative to SLPS:

   • NSCS offers a viable, competitive option for families seeking alternatives to SLPS, particularly for those prioritizing smaller class sizes, restorative practices, and targeted academic interventions.

How NSCS Compares to Other Charter Schools

1. Mid-Tier Positioning:

   • NSCS ranks in the middle among charter schools, with opportunities to improve ELA and Math scores to compete with top performers like Lafayette Preparatory Academy and Gateway Science Academy.

2. Strengths with Student Groups:

   • NSCS ranks higher in Student Group scores than in All Students for both ELA and Math, showing its focused interventions yield measurable results.

3. Room for Growth:

   • To compete with leading schools, NSCS must continue prioritizing efforts to move more students from “basic” to “proficient” and “advanced” levels, particularly in ELA, where the gap with top schools is more pronounced.

Action Points for NSCS

• Targeted ELA Improvement: Strengthen interventions to close the gap with leading schools like Lafayette Preparatory Academy, particularly for “All Students” in ELA.
• Sustain Math Gains: Build on existing successes in Math to further widen the gap over SLPS and move closer to top charter schools.
• Focus on Below-Grade-Level Students: Continue emphasizing strategies to move students out of “below basic” and “basic” levels, which carry the greatest weight in the MPI calculation.