Uniting Students, Education, and Communities

“I enjoyed working every single day. This has been the best job that I’ve ever had. Middle Grades Partnership’s freedom as a director and teacher allows for meaningful moments in the classroom each day, teaching things that the students see value in.”
Middle Grades Partnership Teacher

Evaluation

To ensure that our teachers deliver high-quality programming, the Central Office staff regularly observes our partnership sites. After observing a class or activity, we provide feedback and suggestions to adjust the curriculum and enhance the summer experience for our students. Again, this year, we will use program impact surveys from students, parents, teachers, and interns to inform us what is and isn’t working for MGP. We will collect and report on student outcomes, including high school acceptances, school year attendance, student comprehensive scores, student grades, summer attendance and retention, and student tracking through high school graduation. We will use MAP and iReady formative testing scores to confirm actual summer learning gains from spring to fall once testing in schools resumes. 

In 2026, we completed a three-year evaluation with excellent results. WolfBrown found that students who attended the Middle Grades Partnership MGP summer program significantly outperformed their peers on standardized tests.

Researchers analyzed iReady math and reading scores for MGP participants, registered non-attendees (Group A), and non-registered peers from the same schools (Group B). Scores were compared before and after the summer for 2022-2024 cohorts.

Results showed that MGP students’ post-program math scores were approximately 5 points higher than those of both comparison groups, a statistically significant and “substantively important” effect per U.S. Department of Education standards.

In reading, MGP participants scored 13 points higher on average than Group A and 7 points higher than Group B. These differences also exceeded the Department of Education’s importance threshold, with the Group A gap nearly doubling it, and were nearly statistically significant for both groups.

Middle Grades Partnership recognizes the critical nature of the transition from middle school to high school while acknowledging the instability and inconsistency that plagues the lives of many of our students. It has been a point of discomfort that we develop close relationships with our students over three critical years but have then considered our work done when they are accepted to top public high schools. Yes, some return as interns—but what about the rest? Our Program Director will help us guide program enhancements, direct improvements in our approach to the high school transition, and develop a mentorship program. This person will be collecting high school GPA, English and, Math grades, Honors and AP courses, attendance, on track for grade promotion and graduation, and student transfers. Re-engagement of our alumni as mentors will develop their leadership skills putting them on a path to greater success while enhancing the experience for all.
Middle Grades Partnership increases opportunities for academically promising Baltimore City public middle school students through public and private school partnerships.
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