HCPSS MPIA Request #2018-056

Requested Information
This may overlap with 2018-047, but it's important it be asked to ensure the integrity of the data being provided to the plublic. How were test takers chosen for the tests in the data set provided by 2018-004?

When adding up total test takers for high school the numbers are:

Hammond HS: 319
Wilde Lake HS: 364
Oakland Mills HS: 367
Long Reach HS: 478
Reservoir HS: 489
Howard HS: 598
Mt Hebron HS: 610
Atholton HS: 676
Centennial HS: 672
Glenelg HS: 768
River Hill HS: 800
Marriotts Ridge HS: 881

These numbers do not correlate to grade level and are highly disparate. Some of these schools have more than twice the number of test takers leading to poor data for all people involved in redistricting.
Status
Complete
Response Notes

HCPSS has made substantial efforts to ensure the accuracy of this information; however, school polygons and attendance areas are subject to change. Please be mindful when comparing data as many variances can occur between reports based on date pulled, categories included, etc. The user of this data accepts full liability for any use of the data. For any questions regarding the data or concerns about the planning process, please contact the Office of School Planning at 410-313-7184 or SchoolPlanning@hcpss.org.

Responsive Documents
This polygon-level chart contains all testing data as currently used by School Planning for redistricting purposes which includes descriptors that answer your question on how test takers were chosen. In order to protect against potential disclosures of personally identifiable information about students when looking at polygon-level data where those who know the residents of a particular neighborhood may be able to deduce student-level information, HCPSS is following the National Center for Education Statistics’ federal guidelines for protecting student privacy in public reporting. Under both the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), which restricts access to student records, and MPIA GP § 4-313, which prevents disclosure of school district records pertaining to individual students, FARMs and academic testing data has been suppressed per the key contained in the file.

*Some request language is summarized to include the requester's specific document requests and legally protected information (such as personally identifiable information of a student) or personal, defamatory and malicious content removed at the discretion of the school system.

**Responses containing legally protected information available only to the person of interest are omitted from the above report.

***Howard County Public Schools reserves the right to remove erroneous or outdated documents from this site.