NWEA MAP scores help parents and teachers understand a student’s current achievement level and academic growth in subjects such as reading, mathematics, language usage, and science. MAP Growth is a computer-adaptive assessment, which means the difficulty of the questions changes according to the student’s answers. The goal is to measure what a student knows now and what they may be ready to learn next.



For the 2026–2027 school year, schools are using the updated 2025 MAP Growth norms. These norms provide the national comparison data used to interpret MAP scores by grade level, testing season, and subject. Understanding the new norms, RIT scale, and growth information can help families make better sense of MAP results.



What Does an NWEA MAP Score Mean?



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 compare it with:



The student’s grade

The subject tested

The Fall, Winter, or Spring testing season

The national grade-level mean

The student’s achievement percentile

Growth between testing periods



An achievement percentile shows how a student performed compared with same-grade students nationally. For example, a percentile rank of 72 means the student scored as well as or better than approximately 72 percent of comparable students.



How Does the RIT Scale Show Growth?



The RIT scale makes it possible to compare a student’s results across different testing periods.



For example, parents can compare Fall and Spring RIT scores to see how the student’s measured achievement changed during the school year.



Because the RIT scale is an equal-interval scale, changes in scores can provide useful information about academic growth.



However, parents should consider the student's grade, subject, and testing season when interpreting those changes.



What Is MAP Growth?



MAP Growth is designed to measure both achievement and academic growth.



Achievement describes a student’s performance at a particular point in time. Growth describes how the student’s performance changes between testing periods.



A student’s growth can be meaningful even when the achievement percentile is not particularly high. Likewise, a student performing at a high achievement level can continue to make academic progress.



Looking at both achievement and growth gives parents a more complete picture of learning.



What Is an Achievement Percentile?



An achievement percentile shows how a student performed compared with students in the same grade nationally.



For example, a percentile rank of 75 means the student performed as well as or better than approximately 75 percent of comparable students.



A percentile is not a percentage score. A student at the 75th percentile did not necessarily answer 75 percent of questions correctly.



Instead, the percentile describes the student’s relative position within the national comparison group.



What Is a Growth Percentile?



A growth percentile measures how a student’s progress compares with students who had similar starting scores.



This is different from an achievement percentile.



The achievement percentile focuses on current performance, while the growth percentile focuses on progress over time.



Parents should review both measures when possible because they provide different information about a student's academic development.



What Changed in the New 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.



This is why families should use current NWEA MAP score charts for 2026 and 2027 rather than older charts found online.



Why the New Norms Matter



The updated norms provide a more current national comparison for interpreting student performance.



A parent using an older MAP chart may see a different percentile for the same RIT score because the comparison group and reference data have been updated.



The RIT scale remains the same, but percentile interpretation can change when national norms are updated.



For this reason, families should check whether a MAP score chart is based on the current 2025 norms.



Understanding Math and Reading Scores



MAP math and reading scores should be interpreted separately according to grade and testing season.



Math results provide information about mathematics achievement and growth, while reading results provide information about reading achievement and progress.



A student may perform differently in each subject, so parents should avoid using a single subject’s score as a measure of overall academic ability.



The most useful approach is to review each subject using the appropriate national reference data.



Why Fall, Winter, and Spring Matter



MAP Growth assessments may be administered during Fall, Winter, and Spring.



Fall results can provide a starting point for the school year. Winter results can show progress during the year, while Spring results can provide information about achievement later in the school year.



Because students are expected to grow during the year, each testing season has its own appropriate comparison information.



Parents should compare a student's score with the chart for the correct grade, subject, and season.



Find MAP Scores by Grade Level



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 can help parents understand RIT scores, percentiles, and growth with the updated 2025 norms.



One MAP Score Does Not Tell the Full Story



Parents should remember that one MAP score does not tell the full story. The MAP Growth Family Report combines achievement, growth, and projected proficiency so families can see both current performance and progress over time.



Classroom performance, teacher feedback, assignments, and other assessments can also provide valuable context see the NWEA MAP scores by grade level in math as published on www.ReadyScores.com.



Looking at the RIT score, percentile, growth, grade level, subject, and testing season together provides a more complete understanding of student progress.



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.