Performance Levels and Score Ranges
Scale Scores
PRoPL reports on overall content area student performance using scale scores in grades K-8. Scales scores are used to report test scores and aid in score interpretation. Standardized scale scores allow for the comparison of a given score with scores of other students taking the test within the same grade and subject. The scale-score ranges for grades K-2 are listed in the table below; see the Performance Levels section for scale-score ranges for grades 3-8.
Grade | Scale-Score Range |
|---|---|
K | 100-190 |
1 | 200-300 |
2 | 200-300 |
PRoPL results in ADAM provide visualizations indicating where average scores or a student’s score falls within the scale score range.
Performance Levels
In grades 3-8, students are placed into performance levels (referred to as Score Groups in ADAM) based on their scale scores.
The PRoPL performance levels are:
Performance Level | Description |
Level 1 (Less than 10th percentile) | a student likely needing support at current grade and on some content from the previous grade |
Level 2 (10th to 40th percentile) | a student likely needing support at current grade |
Level 3 (40th to 75th- percentile) | a student who is likely developing on-grade proficiency |
Level 4 (75th to 95th percentile) | a student who is likely demonstrated mastery on-grade and demonstrated readiness for some next-grade content |
Level 5 (95th percentile and above) | a student who likely demonstrated mastery on-grade and demonstrated ability on next-grade level |
The scale-score ranges determine the performance level of students. For each grade level below, the ranges for each performance level have been provided. The lowest value in Level 1 and the highest value in Level 5 represent the scale-score range for each grade. Because these levels are based on percentiles, these cut levels may be adjusted in subsequent years based on student performance. The goal of these levels is to help identify students who need support and students who are ready for more challenging material. These levels should not be interpreted as proficiency level.
Grade | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 |
Math | |||||
3 | 435-470 | 475-550 | 555-600 | 605-650 | 655-685 |
4 | 450-495 | 500-560 | 565-605 | 610-670 | 675-735 |
5 | 485-520 | 525-580 | 585-630 | 635-695 | 700-785 |
6 | 495-540 | 545-600 | 605-650 | 655-720 | 725-805 |
7 | 520-545 | 550-610 | 615-660 | 665-745 | 750-835 |
8 | 530-570 | 575-630 | 635-690 | 695-775 | 780-865 |
Reading | |||||
3 | 435-470 | 475-500 | 505-565 | 570-605 | 610-695 |
4 | 460-480 | 485-550 | 555-635 | 640-675 | 680-760 |
5 | 495-540 | 545-590 | 595-655 | 660-695 | 700-785 |
6 | 510-570 | 575-620 | 625-675 | 680-720 | 725-800 |
7 | 525-580 | 585-625 | 630-690 | 695-735 | 740-835 |
8 | 545-605 | 610-645 | 650-720 | 725-775 | 780-865 |
Student Achievement Norms
The norms in the tables below represent the average scores observed across PRoPL districts testing in the fall administration of 2023. The norms can be interpreted as follows, using third grade math as an example:
- Average observed third-grade math score was 507.4.
- Standard deviation was 52.8.
- This distribution represents a normal distribution meaning that 68 percent of third-grade students scored between 454.6 to 560.2 (507.4-52.8, 507.4+ 52.8).
Fall 2023 Interim 1 Student Achievement Norms | |||
Subject | Grade | Average Scale Score | Standard Deviation |
Math | Kindergarten | 144.7 | 11.0 |
1 | 254.3 | 13.4 | |
2 | 251.1 | 12.4 | |
3 | 507.4 | 52.8 | |
4 | 558.7 | 53.6 | |
5 | 599.0 | 54.7 | |
6 | 601.2 | 48.5 | |
7 | 615.6 | 47.4 | |
8 | 626.7 | 44.8 | |
Reading | Kindergarten | 139.5 | 9.5 |
1 | 249.9 | 15.1 | |
2 | 242.2 | 13.9 | |
3 | 522.1 | 50.6 | |
4 | 562.3 | 58.7 | |
5 | 604.9 | 55.4 | |
6 | 623.8 | 55.8 | |
7 | 649.3 | 55.9 | |
8 | 671.7 | 55.9 | |
In the high school courses, there was no scale score for Interim 1. The table below illustrates the observed average percent correct across all students taking these tests in the fall of 2023. These values have a similar interpretation as the previous table. For example, the average percent correct in Algebra 1, of 26.4, falls within the range of 12.3 and 40.5 percent correct.
Fall 2023 Interim 1 Student Achievement Norms | ||
|---|---|---|
Subject | Average Percent Correct | Standard Deviation |
Algebra 1 | 26.4 | 14.1 |
Algebra 2 | 33.0 | 12.1 |
Geometry | 22.5 | 9.8 |
Reading | 52.6 | 18.9 |
The lower average percent correct in high school is expected because students are just learning this content. This is especially true for Algebra 1 and Geometry courses where the content can seem quite different than previous mathematics courses. Reading in high school is more similar to Reading in 3-8 grade, which is reflected by the observed average percent correct. These scores serve as a baseline for measuring learning and growth during the year as students have opportunity to learn the new material.
The information above is also available for download below or from the overall PRoPL Resources page.