For the 2026–2027 school year, schools are using the updated 2025 MAP Growth norms. These norms provide national comparison data used to interpret MAP scores 2027 by grade level, testing season, and subject. Understanding the difference between achievement and growth can help parents make better sense of their child’s results.
What Does an NWEA MAP Achievement Score Mean?
MAP achievement results describe a student’s current level of performance compared with students in the same grade nationally.
MAP Growth results are reported using the RIT scale. RIT stands for Rasch Unit. It is an equal-interval scale, similar to the marks on a ruler, so a ten-point increase represents the same amount of measured growth at different points on the scale.
A RIT score should not be interpreted by itself. Parents should consider:
The student’s grade
The subject tested
The Fall, Winter, or Spring testing season
The national grade-level mean
The achievement percentile
Previous MAP results
These factors provide more context when reviewing a student’s current achievement.
What Is a MAP Achievement Percentile?
An achievement percentile shows how a student performed compared with students in the same grade nationally.
For example, a percentile rank of 72 means the student scored as well as or better than approximately 72 percent of comparable students.
A percentile is not a percentage score. A student at the 72nd percentile did not necessarily answer 72 percent of questions correctly.
Instead, the achievement percentile describes the student’s relative position within the national comparison group.
What Does a MAP Growth Score Mean?
A MAP growth score provides information about how a student’s achievement changes between testing periods.
Growth can be reviewed by comparing results from Fall, Winter, and Spring assessments. This allows parents and teachers to see whether a student’s RIT score has increased, decreased, or remained relatively stable.
Growth is especially useful because students do not all begin the school year at the same achievement level.
A student who starts with a lower RIT score may make substantial progress during the year, even if the final achievement percentile remains below the national average.
What Is a MAP Growth Percentile?
A growth percentile measures how a student’s progress compares with students who had similar starting scores.
This is different from the achievement percentile.
An achievement percentile describes current performance. A growth percentile describes progress compared with similar students.
For example, a student could have an achievement percentile of 45 but a growth percentile of 80. This would indicate that the student’s current achievement is around the middle of the comparison group while the student’s growth is stronger than that of many students with similar starting scores.
Achievement and Growth Tell Different Stories
Achievement and growth should not be treated as the same measurement.
Achievement helps answer:
“Where is my child performing now?”
Growth helps answer:
“How much progress has my child made compared with similar students?”
Both questions are important.
A student with a high achievement percentile may still benefit from continued academic growth. Likewise, a student with a lower achievement percentile may be making excellent progress.
Parents should therefore review both measures rather than focusing on only one number.
Understanding MAP Math Achievement and Growth
MAP math results provide information about a student’s mathematics achievement and progress.
Parents can compare math RIT scores across Fall, Winter, and Spring testing periods to understand changes during the school year.
The achievement percentile provides national comparison information, while the growth percentile shows how the student’s progress compares with students who had similar starting scores.
Looking at both measures can provide a clearer picture of mathematics development.
Understanding MAP Reading Achievement and Growth
MAP reading results provide information about a student’s current reading achievement and progress over time.
Parents can review reading RIT scores, achievement percentiles, and growth information to understand how a student is developing.
Teachers can also use MAP reading results to identify areas where additional instruction may be helpful or where a student may be ready for more advanced learning.
Why Grade Level Matters
MAP achievement and growth results should always be interpreted according to grade level.
National comparison information varies by grade, so a score that is typical for one grade may have a different meaning for another.
Parents should use a current MAP score chart that matches the student’s grade, subject, and testing season.
This makes comparisons more accurate and meaningful.
Why Testing Season Matters
MAP Growth assessments may be administered during Fall, Winter, and Spring.
Fall results can establish a starting point for the academic year. Winter results can show progress during the year, while Spring results provide information later in the academic cycle.
Each season has its own national comparison information. Parents should therefore use the appropriate seasonal reference data when reviewing achievement and growth.
What Changed in the 2025 MAP Norms?
The RIT scale itself has not changed, but the national reference points have. NWEA reports that the 2025 norms generally reflect lower national achievement than the previous 2020 norms, with larger differences among lower-performing students.
As a result, the same RIT score may now correspond to a somewhat different percentile than it did under the older norms.
Families should therefore use current NWEA MAP score charts for 2026 and 2027 rather than relying on older charts found online.
How Parents Can Read Achievement and Growth Results
Parents can begin by identifying the student’s grade, subject, and testing season.
Next, review the RIT score and achievement percentile to understand current performance.
Then compare the current score with previous MAP results to see how the student’s performance has changed.
Finally, review the growth percentile to understand how the student’s progress compares with students who had similar starting scores.
If the results are unclear, parents can discuss them with the student’s teacher for additional context.
Find MAP Achievement and Growth Scores by Grade
You can view updated NWEA MAP scores by grade level, MAP score charts, national averages, percentile ranges, and typical Fall, Winter, and Spring scores at ReadyScores.com.
The charts make it easier to compare a child’s score with students in the same grade and testing season. Separate information is available for MAP reading scores, MAP math scores, language usage, and science.
Using current charts is particularly important for the 2026–2027 school year because the updated 2025 norms may produce different percentile comparisons than older reference charts.
One MAP Score Does Not Tell the Full Story
Parents should remember that a single achievement or growth score does not describe a student’s complete academic ability.
The MAP Growth Family Report combines achievement, growth, and projected proficiency so families can see both current performance and progress over time.
For example, a student may have an achievement percentile below the national average while demonstrating strong growth. Another student may have a high achievement percentile but show more moderate growth.
Looking at achievement, growth, RIT scores, classroom performance, and teacher feedback together provides a more complete picture of academic development.
About ReadyScores.com
ReadyScores.com is a resource for NWEA MAP scores, MAP scores by grade level, i-Ready scores, STAR scores, national percentile charts, and school assessment interpretation.
The website also provides free calculators in English and German. These include the NWEA MAP Score Calculator, i-Ready Score Calculator, APUSH Score Calculator, Time Duration Calculator, free Timecard Calculator, Work Hours Calculator, Arbeitszeitrechner, Stundenrechner, and other useful education and time tools.
