Making Sense of MAP: A Parent’s Guide to Understanding Your Child’s MAP Growth Results

You’ve done the hard part—your child has taken the MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) Growth assessment (whether with us at Kalexedy or through Homeschool Boss), and now you’ve got a report in hand. It’s full of numbers, charts, and terms like “RIT scores” and “percentiles.” And if you’re thinking, What does any of this actually mean for my child?, don’t worry—you’re not alone. At Kalexedy Learning Center, we walk families through MAP results all the time. This guide is here to demystify the report and show you how to use the insights it provides.

Let’s break it down together.

What’s in a MAP Report?

Each MAP Growth report usually includes:

• A RIT score (the main number you’ll see)

• A percentile rank (how your child compares to other students)

• A lexile range (for reading)

• Goal areas or “learning statements” that show what your child is ready to learn

  
  

You might see one subject (like Math or Reading) or several, depending on which tests were taken.

Understanding the RIT Score

RIT stands for Rasch Unit—it’s a stable, equal-interval scale that measures your child’s instructional level.

Think of it like a height chart—but instead of inches, it’s academic readiness. A student’s RIT score isn’t tied to their grade. In fact, two kids in the same grade could have very different RIT scores, and that’s totally normal.

What’s a “good” score? That depends on the student’s grade level and the time of year. MAP tests are normed for fall, winter, and spring—so a “typical” score in spring might be higher than one in fall.

As a very rough example:

• A 5th grader in reading might have a RIT of 208 in the Fall and 216 by Spring of the same year

• A 7th grader might grow from 220 to 228 in math over the year

What matters most isn’t the number itself—it’s the growth over time.

What About Percentiles?

The percentile rank tells you how your child compares to a national sample of students who took MAP at the same grade level and time of year.

• A percentile of 50 is right in the middle—half of students scored higher, half scored lower.

• A 90th percentile means your child scored better than 90% of students in that group.

• A 25th percentile means 75% of students scored higher—but that doesn’t mean your child is failing.

Reminder: Percentiles are useful for context, but they don’t define your child’s ability or potential. They’re just one piece of the puzzle.

Lexile Score (Reading Only)

If your child took the Reading test, you’ll see a Lexile range. This measures reading comprehension and helps match your child with texts that are just right—not too easy, not too hard.

If your child has a Lexile of 900L–1040L, that suggests they can read and understand books in that range. Tools like Lexile.com can help you find reading material at your child’s level.

Tip: Choose books at the top of the range for a challenge, or at the lower end for independent reading confidence.

Learning Statements: What Your Child Is Ready to Learn

This is where MAP truly shines.

You’ll see your child’s goal areas broken down by sub-skills—like algebraic thinking, vocabulary acquisition, or text analysis—with indicators of what your child already knows and what they’re ready to tackle next.

At Kalexedy, we use these “next up” skills to guide instruction and stretch learning. Families can do the same at home:

• Want to support math? Look at the “Operations & Algebraic Thinking” skills your child is ready for and build practice into everyday problem-solving.

• Want to enrich reading? Choose texts that support the next level of vocabulary or comprehension development.

This isn’t a test score you frame on the fridge. It’s a launchpad for targeted learning.

How Much Growth Should You Expect?

MAP isn’t about hitting a certain number—it’s about growth over time.

NWEA (The Northwest Evaluation Association, the non-profit organization responsible for the MAP Testing Suite) provides typical growth targets based on millions of students’ data. But growth isn’t one-size-fits-all:

• A high-performing student may show small growth because they’re already near the top of the scale

• A student with skill gaps might show huge growth once they find the right-fit learning environment (we’ve seen it firsthand!)

• Neurodivergent learners may grow unevenly—faster in one subject, slower in another—and that’s okay

  
  

We like to look at growth across multiple testing cycles (e.g., Fall → Spring) to see real trends, rather than fixate on one season’s movement.

A Few Common Questions from Parents

“My child’s score went down. Should I be worried?”

Not necessarily. MAP scores can fluctuate from season to season, especially if your child was tired, distracted, or simply having an off day. Look at longer-term trends before drawing conclusions.

“The score doesn’t match what I see in their work.”

That’s normal! MAP is one data point. It may highlight unseen strengths or flag hidden challenges. Combine it with your own observations and your child’s day-to-day progress.

“How can I use this at home?”

We recommend reviewing the learning statements and choosing 2–3 target skills to focus on in the coming months. Build those into reading, projects, or games—not just worksheets!

At Kalexedy: Data Meets Humanity

We love data—but we don’t let it define our students. MAP results are a springboard, not a scorecard. They help us see:

• When a child is ready for more advanced material

• Where we might need to revisit foundational concepts

• How we can adapt pace, content, and support strategies

Every MAP report helps us teach more effectively—and parent more confidently.

If you ever need help interpreting your child’s report, we’re happy to sit down with you and walk through it together.

Bonus: Want to Try MAP at Home?

We continue to recommend Homeschool Boss for families who want to access MAP testing outside of traditional school settings.

They provide a low-stress, proctored experience right from your home—and follow it up with detailed reports you can use for learning plans or school transitions.