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HCPSS 2025 Student Test Scores on State Achievement Tests Continue to Rise

August 27th, 2025

Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) students’ performance in mathematics and English Language Arts (ELA) continues to improve and exceed state averages, as reflected in 2025 Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) scores recently released by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE). The MCAP assessments measure mastery of state content standards to ensure that all students are progressing and receiving the necessary resources for remediation and enrichment. MCAP assessments include four student performance levels: Beginning Learner, Developing Learner, Proficient Learner, and Distinguished Learner. Both distinguished and proficient learners are considered proficient.

Among all the counties in the state, Howard County ranked second overall in math proficiency for all tests combined (42.0%) and fourth overall in ELA proficiency for all tests combined (65.2%). In addition, Howard County student scores are higher than state averages across all grades for both math and ELA. The overall state average for math proficiency is 26.5% and the overall state average for ELA Is 50.8%.

“This data is important as we continually assess the effectiveness of our practices and supports to maximize student achievement,” said HCPSS Superintendent Bill Barnes. “Comparatively, HCPSS performs well in the State of Maryland, but we know that we have tremendous opportunities to improve and become a great school system for every student. Too many disparities continue to exist, and while this high-level data provides a glimpse of our challenges, staff are digging deeply to understand the needs of each individual student and provide what is needed to overcome those challenges.”

While proficiency increased across most grades from 2024 to 2025, grades 3 and 5 saw slight decreases primarily on the math assessment. Additionally, despite 2025 math and ELA proficiency rates exceeding state averages across all student populations, disparities continue to exist between some student groups in Howard County, including Students with Disabilities, Multilingual Learners, Black/African American students, and students who are Hispanic/Latino of any Race.

As part of system alignment and staff development efforts to begin the school year, Superintendent Barnes uplifted four areas of concentration that serve as collective priorities for the entire system. With highly enhanced dedicated efforts focused on these four areas, the intent is to begin closing the gaps in achievement that exist and eliminating disparities that arise in the data and outcomes across HCPSS. The four areas of concentration include:

The 2025 MCAP ELA and Math Results were presented to the Maryland State Board of Education on Tuesday, August 26, and can be viewed online. Full MCAP results will be provided among the Data Downloads on the Maryland Report Card site, https://reportcard.msde.maryland.gov/.