matching the best learning opportunities and school with your child

 
 

Our mandatory admission assessments help Walden to build its community of learners and invite applicants to join the learning community that is right for them. MAP Growth is the most trusted and innovative assessment for measuring achievement and growth in K–12 math, reading, language usage, and science. It provides admissions administrators with accurate, actionable evidence to help inform enrollment decisions. Using MAP Growth as part of a comprehensive and balanced admissions process, the Walden admissions committee can identify every student's academic progress, whether they are below, at, or above grade level.

 
 
 

Schedule your assessment

To schedule your child’s MAP Growth assessment at Walden School, please click here to select an available date on our calendar. If you have any questions, please contact our Director of Admissions, Stacy Nickle, at snickle@walden-school.org.

 
 

How it Works

MAP Growth is a computer-adaptive test. If your child answers a question correctly, the next question is more challenging. If they answer incorrectly, the next one is easier. This type of assessment challenges top performers without overwhelming students whose skills are below grade level.

WHat it measures

MAP Growth uses a RIT scale to accurately measure what students know, regardless of their grade level. It also measures growth over time, allowing you to track your child’s progress throughout the school year and across multiple years. Once your child completes a MAP Growth test, they receive a RIT score.

The RIT scale precisely measures student performance, regardless of whether they’re performing on, above, or below grade level.

Your child’s RIT score

RIT scores have the same meaning across grade levels. If a fourth-grade student and an eighth-grade student have the same RIT score in reading, then they are testing at the same level in that subject. This stable scale allows teachers to accurately measure each student’s academic growth throughout the school year and over time.

You can use your child’s RIT score to help them meet their goals. For example, students can enter their RIT scores into our college explorer tool to see which colleges and universities they’re on track to enter. You can also ask your child’s school about educational resources that use MAP Growth RIT scores to provide personalized learning resources.

 

Common Questions

  • Teachers can use the scores to identify learning areas that their class should focus on, as well as monitor the growth of individual students. Principals and administrators can use the scores to see the performance and progress of a grade level, school, or the entire district.

  • Yes, but please note that MAP Growth scores are just one data point that teachers use to determine how a student is performing. Please discuss any questions that you have about your child’s performance with their teacher.

  • NWEA provides schools with norms by utilizing anonymous data from more than 10 million students around the US. Knowing the top, middle, and bottom scores of all these students combined allows teachers to compare where your child is to other students and help them grow. In addition, NWEA provides comparison data for private, accredited, English-based, international schools using MAP Growth outside the US.

  • MAP Growth is administered periodically during the school year. Instead of asking all students the same questions, it adjusts to each child’s performance—giving a more accurate measure of what they know. Teachers also receive results right away, which enables them to react more quickly.

  • The MAP Growth tests include multiple choice, drag-and-drop, and other types of questions. For sample tests, visit Warmup.NWEA.org.