Math in Focus: Old Bridge

At a glance

  • Promising Evidence
  • Program: Math in Focus®: Singapore Math® by Marshall Cavendish®
  • Subject: Math
  • Report Type: Efficacy Study, Study Conducted by Third Party
  • Grade Level: Elementary
  • Region: Northeast
  • District Urbanicity: Suburban
  • District Size: Medium
  • District: Old Bridge, NJ
  • Outcome Measure: NJ ASK
  • Evaluation Period: 2010
  • Study Conducted by: Educational Research Institute of America

An analysis of 2010 state test scores in Old Bridge, NJ sought to determine if Math in Focus students experienced greater gains on the state mathematics test (NJ ASK).

3x greater gains with Math in Focus!

4th-Grade Student Performance on NJ ASK

Math in Focus students improved an average of 12.4 points, more than three times the average improvement that occurred across the remaining students in the district in the comparison group.

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GRAPH 1. Gains on the NJ ASK State Test for Grade 4 Students
More students reach advanced levels with Math in Focus!

NJ ASK gains at the Advanced Proficient Level

The percentage of 4th-grade students scoring at the highest level, advanced proficient, increased by 22% for the Math in Focus group, while the comparison group increased by only 4%.

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GRAPH 2. NJ ASK gains for Grade 4 Students at the Advanced Proficient Level

An independent research firm conducted a yearlong study that examined 2nd-grade achievement in Math in Focus compared to a control group.

At Grade 2, the Math in Focus group of students made significant and greater academic gains from pretest to posttest.

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GRAPH 3. Grade 2 SAT-9 Score Improvement (improvement from pretest to posttest)

Math in Focus student performance on the NJ ASK test was also compared to comparison groups using constructivist and explicit mathematics programs. The three programs were taught in the same schools by similar teachers. The analysis showed that the students using Math in Focus, a program that utilizes a balanced approach, outperformed the students in the alternative programs.

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GRAPH 4. Gains in % of Grade 4 Students Scoring at the Advanced Proficient Level