By Amy Argetsinger
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, December 10, 1998; Page M1

Anne Arundel County elementary and middle schools improved their average scores on Maryland's skills-based standardized tests this year, gains that county officials credited to renewed teacher-training efforts and an increased emphasis on reading instruction.

Of the third-, fifth- and eighth-graders who took the Maryland School Performance Assessment Program exam last spring, 48.4 percent earned satisfactory scores, up from 46.7 percent last year and 36.6 percent when the test began in 1993.

Yet the rising scores enjoyed by numerous schools were counterbalanced by those at several others, which have shown little or no improvement over the five years.

Although the county's increase was smaller than the statewide average, the latest results still were considered a victory for a diverse, 73,000-student school system in which MSPAP scores had stagnated in recent years. "I am confident that system performance will continue to improve," county Superintendent Carol S. Parham said.

The MSPAP exam is Maryland's pioneering test of how well students can analyze information and solve problems and is the primary tool that state education officials use to determine whether a school is succeeding or failing at its mission of preparing youngsters for the work force.

Unlike standardized tests of an earlier generation, MSPAP exams do not offer multiple choices. Students are required to write mini-essays, perform simple science experiments, draw maps and charts and occasionally work in groups. Testing is in six areas – reading, writing, language usage (better known as "grammar"), mathematics, science and social studies.

Schools that do well on the MSPAP are given cash awards or commendations by the state. Those that perform poorly are monitored for potential takeover by the state Board of Education. By 2000, Maryland officials want 70 percent of third-, fifth- and eighth-graders at all elementary and middle schools to meet the "satisfactory" mark.

One Anne Arundel school, Hilltop Elementary, was singled out for special praise by state officials this year. Despite drawing nearly one-third of its students from low-income homes near Baltimore-Washington International Airport, Hilltop has shown dramatic improvement on its test scores. In 1998, 47.2 percent of students earned satisfactory scores, up from 25.9 in 1993.

State officials say Hilltop students are doing better because Principal Louise DeJesu has encouraged teachers to do more hands-on science and math projects and has held special events to get parents more involved.

The MSPAP also brought good news for one of the county's most troubled schools. Three years ago, Van Bokkelen Elementary near Fort Meade was put on the state's list of low-scoring schools to monitor for potential takeover. But under a new principal and a new staff, its overall scores, though still far below state averages, have risen markedly.

The state's "report card" for Maryland school systems includes ratings for how local districts fare on indicators besides the MSPAP. Anne Arundel high schools continue to satisfy state standards with the 95 percent of ninth- and 11th-graders who pass statewide "functional" tests in areas such as reading, writing, mathematics and citizenship.

Yet the county still has more students dropping out of school than the state considers acceptable. In 1998, the dropout rate was 4.16 percent, just slightly less than last year's and still higher than the state's "standard" of 3 percent.