Diving Deeper: Understanding Your Child's CMAS Scores (An In-Depth Guide for Families)

Your child's standardized test data can seem like a foreign language. Let me help you translate it!

Receiving your child's CMAS report can sometimes feel like reading a foreign language. But don't worry! This guide will break down the Colorado Measures of Academic Success

(CMAS) scores in more detail, so you can truly understand what they mean for your child's learning journey and how to use this valuable information.

What is CMAS, and Why Does It Matter?

CMAS is Colorado's statewide standardized assessment program. Think of it as a comprehensive academic check-up for your child in English Language Arts (ELA – which includes reading and writing), Mathematics, Science, and sometimes Social Studies (depending on the grade).

Why do we have these tests?

• For Your Child: CMAS helps you and your child's teachers understand how well your child is grasping the Colorado Academic Standards – what students are expected to know and be able to do at their specific grade level. It's a snapshot of their learning on a particular day, showing their strengths and areas where they might need more support.

• For Schools & Districts: These scores help schools and districts identify areas where their curriculum or teaching methods might need adjustments. It provides data for school improvement efforts, ensuring all students are on track for success.

• For the State: CMAS helps Colorado understand how its educational system is performing overall and where resources might be needed to support schools and students.

Important Distinction: CMAS is not a grade on your child's report card. It's a standardized assessment that measures how your child performed against state-wide academic standards, offering a different perspective than daily classroom work.

Deconstructing the Performance Levels: What Each Level Truly Means

The most crucial part of your child's CMAS report is their Performance Level. There are five distinct levels, each providing specific insights:

• 1. Exceeded Expectations (Level 5): 🎉

  • What it means: Your child demonstrates a distinguished and thorough understanding of the grade-level academic standards. They can not only recall information but also apply complex thinking, solve challenging problems, and communicate their understanding effectively. They are well-prepared for the next grade level and beyond.

  • Actionable insight: Celebrate their success! Discuss with the teacher how to keep them challenged and engaged with enriched learning opportunities.

• 2. Met Expectations (Level 4): 👍

  • What it means: Your child consistently demonstrates a strong and sufficient understanding of the grade-level academic standards. They are able to apply what they've learned and are on track for college and career readiness. This level indicates they are well-prepared for the next grade level.

  • Actionable insight: This is a solid performance! Work with the teacher to identify any minor areas for refinement and continue to build on their strong foundation.

• 3. Approached Expectations (Level 3): 🤔

  • What it means: Your child shows a foundational understanding of the grade-level academic standards but may need some additional support to fully meet expectations. They are progressing but might struggle with more complex applications or certain concepts.

  • Actionable insight: This is a signal to collaborate with the teacher. Ask specific questions about which topics or skills need more attention and what resources or strategies can be used both in school and at home.

• 4. Partially Met Expectations (Level 2): 💪

  • What it means: Your child shows a limited understanding of the grade-level academic standards and needs significant support to catch up. They may be struggling with core concepts and require targeted intervention.

  • Actionable insight: This warrants a serious conversation with the teacher and you may want an advocate to sit in on these conversations or to help you formulate appropriate questions to ask. Develop a clear plan for support, which might include tutoring, extra practice, or modified instruction. Focus on foundational skills.

• 5. Did Not Yet Meet Expectations (Level 1): 💡

  • What it means: Your child demonstrates a minimal understanding of the grade-level academic standards and needs extensive support to gain the necessary knowledge and skills.

  • Actionable insight: It's crucial to partner closely with the school. This score indicates a significant need for intervention. Work with the teacher, school support staff and an advocate to develop a comprehensive plan to address learning gaps.

    
    

Understanding the Numbers: Scale Scores & Percentiles

Beyond the performance levels, you'll also see numbers on the report:

• Scale Score: This is a numerical score (often ranging from 650 to 850 for ELA/Math/Science, and other ranges for reading sub-scores). Its primary purpose is to allow for consistent comparison across different versions of the test and across years. So, a 720 score in 3rd grade ELA in one year means the same level of understanding as a 720 in 3rd grade ELA in another year, even if the specific test questions were slightly different. This helps track your child's progress over time.

  • Your child's scale score determines which of the five performance levels they fall into.

• Percentile: This number tells you how your child performed compared to other students in Colorado who took the same test in the same grade. For example:

  • If your child is in the 60th percentile, it means they scored better than 60% of students in the state.

  • If they are in the 20th percentile, they scored better than 20% of students in the state (meaning 80% scored higher).

  • Higher percentiles generally indicate stronger performance relative to their peers.

    
    

Making the Most of Your Child's CMAS Report: Proactive Steps

Your child's CMAS score is a tool for insight, not a final judgment. Here's how to use it effectively:

1. Start with a Conversation with the Teacher (probably the next year's teacher but you might also request a meeting between last year's teacher and the new grade teacher together to allow for a better overall understanding to support your student.): This is the most important step. Schedule a meeting to discuss the report.

   • Ask: "What surprised you about these scores?"

   • Ask: "How do these scores align with what you see in the classroom every day?"

   • Ask: "What specific areas (e.g., in math, multiplication; in reading, identifying main ideas) do you recommend we focus on at home, and what resources can you suggest?"

   • Ask: "What are the school's plans to support students who are approaching or partially meeting expectations?"

2. Look for Specific Strengths and Areas for Growth: These more in depth reports should be available later this summer! CMAS reports often break down performance by specific categories or "claims" within each subject (e.g., "Reading: Key Ideas and Details" or "Math: Geometry"). This granular detail can pinpoint exactly where your child excels or needs more practice.

3. Monitor Growth Over Time: If your child takes CMAS tests in multiple years, you can look at their scale scores to see if they are making progress, even if their performance level stays the same. Growth is just as important as the final score!

4. Remember the Broader Picture: CMAS is one data point. Combine it with your child's daily classwork, homework, projects, report card grades, and your own observations of their learning and curiosity. All these pieces together paint the most accurate picture of your child's academic journey.

   
   

By understanding and discussing CMAS results, you can become an even more informed and effective partner in your child's education! So many families just need support in translating these reports so they can be an effective tool in helping their children academically. These tests should not be the end all be all of your child's academic year but they CAN be a very useful tool to show how you, and their educational team, can better support them. If you would like to have someone help you walk through these results and come up with a game plan for moving forward, please reach out and we can set up a time to chat!