2x the iReady Proficiency Gains in One Semester

Our current math interventions at Englewood Middle School doubled iReady proficiency gains in just one semester compared to the previous year.

Accelerating student growth in math remains a persistent challenge in middle schools across the country, often leading to widening achievement gaps. However, at Englewood Middle School (EMS), a recent shift in intervention strategy and daily math instruction has yielded extraordinary, measurable success.

This post dives into the data from the EMS Case Study, breaking down the specific data points that support this dramatic increase in iReady proficiency. We’ll highlight the success of targeted, data-driven interventions and show how strategic planning can transform a school's trajectory in a single semester.

Scope of Work

My scope of work as an independent Math Intervention Specialist was very hands on at EMS:

• 1 day of summer training (before the year started)

• A total of 18 days on campus doing instructional coaching around our instructional strategy, The Math Wars Method®, for 1 sixth grade teacher, 1 seventh grade teacher, 1 eighth grade teacher, and 1 math lab teacher.

• Additional meetings with the school’s instructional coach to support him in weekly PLC meetings with the math team

• Three modules of ready to use Math Wars Method® lessons aligned to their curriculum, Eureka²

Doubling Down in 7th Grade

Before EMS hired me, they had made a wise decision as a school to add a Math Lab (intervention) class for 7th grade. Students were identified as needing additional intervention for math and they added two periods of Math Lab for 7th grade students that meet everyday, just as long as a regular class which is 50 minutes. 

Throughout the year I worked closely with the Math Lab teacher to implement a Just in Time approach to her interventions and encouraged her to spend time developing number sense and fact fluency, in opposition to a focus on memorization and speed. 

The data shows this is working! 

Compare year-over-year proficiency growth for 7th grade.

24-25 (BOY to MOY): 5% growth in proficiency.

25-26 (BOY to MOY): 11% growth in proficiency.

This is "more than double" the previous year's gains! The combination of additional support for 7th grade students along with improved instructional practices for all grade levels is helping close the math gap at EMS.

Major Turnaround in 6th Grade

Sixth grade showed major turnarounds in just one semester as well.

Compare year-over-year proficiency growth for 6th grade.

24-25 (BOY to MOY): 0% growth (no growth).

25-26 (BOY to MOY): 12% growth in proficiency.

Sixth grade showed the most significant acceleration, transforming a year of stagnation into major growth with the addition of the Math Wars Method® as an instructional practice.

Closing the Achievement Gap in 8th Grade

In 8th grade the proficiency gain wasn’t as impressive; however there was a marked reduction in the number of students scoring 2+ years below grade level, closing the achievement gap.

Focus on the reduction in students scoring 2+ years below grade level.

24-25 (BOY to MOY): 7% reduction.

25-26 (BOY to MOY): 9% reduction.

This marked reduction is a key indicator of closing the achievement gap and successfully intervening with students most in need at EMS with the use of Math Wars Method® as an instructional routine.

Wrapping Up: The Power of Targeted Interventions

These remarkable first semester shifts—doubling proficiency gains in 7th grade, achieving a major 0% to 12% turnaround in 6th grade, and accelerating achievement gap closure in 8th grade—clearly demonstrate the power of just in time interventions along with effective daily instruction. Our current methods are successfully accelerating student growth beyond last year's benchmarks, proving that the work of a dedicated math consultant or math interventionist who implements strategic, research-backed planning can lead to exceptional, measurable results in a single semester. I am already looking forward to sharing the full story with an update at the end of the year.

If you’d like to talk to Juliana about your 6-12 Math Intervention program, check out this page to learn more about her consulting and speaking services.