Scores inch up on Maryland exams

Scores on Maryland’s reading and math assessments rose slightly this year for elementary and middle school students in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, according to data released Wednesday by the state’s education department. Nearly 90 percent of Montgomery County’s third-graders passed the Maryland School Assessment reading exam, alongside 79.1 percent of third-grade students in Prince George’s County — a 4.4-point increase for Prince George’s, and one of the largest jumps statewide.

Math scores and reading performance in the older grades increased as well, and Panorama Elementary in Temple Hills was one of four schools honored by Maryland for making big-enough strides to move off the state’s list of schools needing improvement.