Universal Screener

MAP Growth is a nationally normed assessment that measures academic progress in math and reading over time. It adapts to each student’s performance, offering a personalized testing experience that identifies a student’s current learning level and growth areas.

Video Resource: What is MAP Growth?
Read more: A Family Guide to MAP Growth

• Grades K–5: Math
• Grades 6–8: Math and Reading

Students take MAP Growth three times a year — Fall, Winter, and Spring — during a district-designated testing window. Testing takes place during regular class time.

You may hear us reference these screeners as Beginning of the Year (BOY), Middle of the Year (MOY) and End of Year (EOY) assessments.

A RIT score estimates a student’s instructional level and tracks academic growth over time. Think of it like a growth chart — but instead of height, it measures academic progress. The RIT scale ranges from 100 to 350 and allows educators and families to monitor a student’s learning progress from year to year. For example, a student might have math RIT scores in the 170s during third grade and progress to the 200s by middle school.

There are no passing or failing scores on MAP Growth. The assessment is designed to show what students are ready to learn next, not to measure mastery or assign a grade.

A percentile rank compares a student’s performance to others in the same grade and subject nationwide.

• For example, a student in the 35th percentile scored as well as or better than 35% of students in that group.

Percentile rank does not represent the percentage of questions answered correctly.

MAP Growth:

• Is given three times a year
• Adapts to each student’s level
• Focuses on measuring growth and readiness to learn

STAAR:

• Is given once a year
• Measures grade-level proficiency

Is a state accountability test

Families receive a MAP Growth report after each testing window (Fall, Winter, and Spring). Reports provide a snapshot of your child’s current achievement and growth over time. Each year’s results build on the previous ones, creating a cumulative record that follows your child throughout their time in GISD.

View a sample report:

• English Sample Report
• Spanish Sample Report

Teachers use MAP data to:

• Guide classroom instruction
• Tailor lessons to student needs
• Monitor academic growth
  Administrators and principals may also review scores at the grade, campus, or district level to ensure that all students are supported effectively.

MAP provides embedded accommodations for students who meet eligibility requirements. You can view a list of the embedded universal features here .

mCLASS is an assessment and instruction system used in grades K–5 that measures students’ progress in developing critical reading skills. It also provides teachers with targeted reading activities based on each student’s needs.

All students in grades K–5 take the mCLASS Reading assessment.

Students take the assessment three times per year — Fall, Winter, and Spring — during class time.

You may hear us reference these screeners as Beginning of the Year (BOY), Middle of the Year (MOY) and End of Year (EOY) assessments. 

mCLASS assesses:

• Phonemic Awareness – hearing and using sounds in spoken words
• Phonics – connecting sounds to letters
• Fluency – reading with speed, accuracy, and expression
• Comprehension – understanding what is read

mClass is used as a dyslexia screener to identify students at risk for dyslexia at the end of the year in kindergarten and middle of the year in first grade. The instrument ensures assessment of letter sound knowledge or letter name fluency (for kindergarten) and word reading accuracy and fluency (in 1st grade) as well as phonological awareness (for both kindergarten and 1st grade). The tool can help identify students who may be at risk for dyslexia based on the scores; however, ongoing progress monitoring and review of data is important to determine if additional evaluation is necessary. 

There is no apples-to-apples correlation. Report cards reflect grades earned on classroom work and tests and should reflect student progress.  MAP and mClass assessments provide insights to a students’ academic learning and progress but are not grades.

Parents are encouraged to partner with teachers to learn of resources that may help their students at home. 

mClass Lectura is given to dual-language students and reports are available for both English and Spanish. Previously, reports were sent home only for the test taken in the student’s native language. Starting in 2026, parents will receive both English and Spanish reports. 

No. Students taking the STAAR Alt 2 test do not take the MAP or mClass tests and will not have results to sent to parents.