★ Spring 2025 NWEA MAP Assessment
Wayne STEM Academy: Where Strong Math
and the Science of Reading Build Extraordinary Scholars
At a STEM school, we trust the science — and our Kindergarten scholars are proving it works in both Mathematics and Literacy.
What is the NWEA MAP Growth Assessment?
The NWEA MAP is a nationally normed test — meaning our scholars' scores are compared against students across the entire United States, not just within Wayne County or North Carolina. When WSA Kindergarteners score in the 83rd percentile in Math, they are outperforming 83% of all kindergarteners in the nation. This is one of the most rigorous academic benchmarks a school can use to measure real student achievement.
Mathematics
March to Math
Direct Instruction · Systematic & Explicit
Winter
81st
National Percentile
+2 pts
Spring ★
83rd
National Percentile
Literacy
Walk to Read
Reading Mastery · Science of Reading Aligned
Winter
66th
National Percentile
+9 pts
Spring ★
75th
National Percentile
📚 Science of Reading
The Research Said It Would Work.
Our Scholars Proved It.
Research on the Science of Reading shows that explicit, systematic phonics instruction can move students from the 50th percentile to the 79th percentile — exactly the kind of acceleration our scholars are living out. At WSA, we don't teach reading by grade level. We teach by instructional level, and the results speak for themselves.
"Creativity, by definition, is a meaningful deviation from a norm. Core Reading provides the norm from which our scholars will SPARK!"
— Dr. Todd Forgette, Executive Director, Wayne STEM Academy
When instruction is systematic, explicit, and delivered at the right level, growth isn't a hope — it's the outcome. Our kindergarteners aren't just learning to read. They're building the foundation for a lifetime of academic excellence.
How We Did It
The WSA Model in Action
Walk to Read
Every scholar is grouped by skill level, not age. Instruction is delivered precisely where each scholar is — accelerating those who are ready and providing targeted support for those still building foundations.
Reading Mastery
A proven, systematic phonics program grounded in 50+ years of research. Explicit, direct instruction that removes ambiguity and builds the decoding skills every reader needs.
March to Math
Direct Instruction mathematics that mirrors our reading approach — systematic, explicit, and leveled. Scholars advance when they're ready, not when the calendar says so.
Precision Placement
Refined assessment protocols ensure no scholar is misplaced. The right instruction at the right level from day one maximizes growth potential all year long.
- Scholars reading ahead move faster — no ceiling on growth, no waiting for peers to catch up.
- Scholars building foundations get targeted support — never left behind, always progressing.
- No scholar is held back by the calendar — they advance when they're ready, period.
- Results tied directly to School Improvement Plan goals — this growth is intentional, documented, and replicable.
