Annual Report on the Systemwide Outcome Measures: Success for Every Student Plan.

The Montgomery County (Maryland) school system evaluated its Success for Every Student Plan, an initiative designed to bring all children in the county's schools, regardless of race or socioeconomic status, to the same high achievement levels. The program was evaluated through school system records with attention to 12 outcomes. An average of 60% of students in grades 3 through 8 reached the state proficiency standard on the mathematics criterion-referenced tests (CRT), and an average of 71% of students in these grades reached the reading CRT proficiency standard. Overall the average reading performance placed students in grades 3 through 8 at the 73rd to 79th percentile nationally, the highest range ever achieved. Improvements in the instruction of the average high school student were signaled by the fact that 69% of ninth graders completed Algebra I or a higher mathematics course, and 54% of all high school students took honors and advanced placement tests. The average Scholastic Assessment Test score of 1092 remained the highest in Maryland, with 77% of all 12th graders taking the test. All but one of the state standards of the Maryland School Performance Program were achieved by elementary and secondary schools. Attendance was high, and the dropout rate declined to 2%. All of these markers of success mean that Montgomery County is making progress toward its goal of success for every student. Data reports contain specific details about progress for the 12 outcomes measured. (Contains 37 tables.) (SLD)