About norm scores and percentile rankings

Based upon our easyCBM district users' nation-wide, we generate scores from students who've taken on-grade benchmark tests that are administered 3 times a year (fall, winter, and spring). Our progress monitoring scoring guidelines are derived from the number of students who score at or below a particular score on a test. These numbers are based on what is called a 'percentile rank' and indicate the proportion of students at a grade level that your students' scores are equal to or above. In essence, how does your student 'rank' among other students in the same grade?

To know how a student compares to other students in their grade (at one of three benchmark times of year) take a student's score from a measure and compare it to the same measure, grade, and time of year the test was taken. Ideally, a student score should fall at the 50th percentile for them to be considered performing on grade. If they are at the 50th percentile or above, no other testing in that area is needed until the next benchmark testing cycle. If they fall below the 50th percentile, then progress monitoring measures should be implemented.

*Please note:

• The easyCBM norms and percentiles were originally developed in 2013-2014. They were updated in the summer of 2020, and will continue to be updated on a five-year rotation thereafter. The next update will be completed for the fall of 2025.
• The easyCBM program has been developed for school testing from September 1-June 30th. We have no norms or percentile scores for summer use (July/August) as we have not done the research testing for this time period. Likewise the percentile lines on the graph will be missing. We consider the summer a break from testing and the natural progression of students transitioning to their next grade in school.