By The OpenKidsPrep Editorial Team
The MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) test is administered by NWEA (Northwest Evaluation Association) and is used in more than 9,500 schools across all 50 states. But "used in all 50 states" is misleading in its vagueness — adoption varies dramatically. In some states, nearly every public school district uses MAP. In others, only a handful of districts have adopted it. And the way districts use MAP results — for classroom differentiation, for reading placement, for gifted identification — varies as much as the adoption rates themselves.
States With the Highest MAP Adoption
NWEA does not publicly publish district-by-district adoption data, but based on available state education reports, procurement data, and educator community reports, the following states are among those with the widest MAP usage:
| State | Approximate Usage Pattern | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Oregon | Very high — statewide reach | NWEA is headquartered in Portland; state has deep institutional ties |
| Washington | High | Major urban districts (Seattle, Spokane) are long-term MAP users |
| Indiana | High | State mandates gifted identification; MAP frequently used as a screening tool |
| Idaho | High | Wide rural adoption; MAP used for both placement and gifted referral |
| Georgia | High | Atlanta metro and statewide gifted programs regularly use MAP data |
| North Carolina | Moderate–High | Charlotte-Mecklenburg and other large districts use MAP extensively |
| Missouri | Moderate–High | Many suburban St. Louis and Kansas City districts use MAP |
| Colorado | Moderate–High | Denver metro districts commonly use MAP for differentiation |
| Tennessee | Moderate–High | Broad adoption across urban and suburban districts |
Important note: These are approximate patterns based on publicly available information. Whether your specific school uses MAP depends on your district's choices, not just your state. The only way to know for certain is to ask your school directly.
How MAP Is Used Differently Across Districts
Even within states with high MAP adoption, the way results are used varies significantly. Here are the most common use cases:
1. Reading and Math Placement
The most common use of MAP is internal academic placement. A student whose MAP reading RIT is significantly above grade level may be placed in an accelerated reading group, given differentiated instruction, or offered advanced coursework. A student below the expected RIT may be recommended for reading intervention or extra math support. Most parents experience MAP this way — as a tool their teacher uses to calibrate instruction.
2. Gifted Program Eligibility Screening
In many districts, a high MAP score is the first step toward gifted program identification. Districts typically set a MAP RIT cutoff — most commonly the 90th percentile for the student's grade — as a threshold that triggers a more comprehensive evaluation. A child who scores at or above the 90th percentile may be referred for gifted testing (such as the CogAT or WISC-V) or placed on a gifted services waitlist.
Some districts use higher thresholds: the 93rd or 95th percentile. A few use MAP as one of multiple criteria in a composite scoring system, rather than as a standalone cutoff.
3. Academic Progress Monitoring
Districts administer MAP in fall, winter, and spring to track whether students are on pace to meet grade-level expectations. Schools compare each student's actual growth (fall to spring RIT change) against NWEA's expected growth norms. This monitoring is used to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions and to identify students who are stagnating despite on-grade-level scores.
States Where MAP Feeds Into Gifted Programs
Indiana
Indiana state law requires that all public school districts identify and serve academically gifted students. The law does not mandate MAP specifically, but many Indiana districts have adopted MAP as a primary screening instrument. A student who achieves a MAP RIT at or above the district's threshold (frequently the 90th percentile) is typically referred for further evaluation. Some Indiana districts use MAP scores alone to qualify students for services at the elementary level.
Georgia
Georgia has a well-developed gifted education structure. Students must qualify on multiple criteria: a mental ability test (often the CogAT or WISC), an achievement test, creativity measures, and motivation ratings. MAP is frequently used as the achievement component of this multi-criteria process. The Fulton County, Cobb County, and Gwinnett County school systems — among Georgia's largest — are known MAP users.
North Carolina
North Carolina Academically or Intellectually Gifted (AIG) programs are required by state law. Many NC districts use MAP as an achievement screening tool. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) has used MAP extensively for both AIG identification and for the district's magnet school application process.
Other States
Regardless of statewide patterns, gifted identification using MAP occurs in districts in nearly every state. If your district uses MAP, it's worth asking your gifted coordinator specifically: "At what MAP RIT percentile does a student get referred for gifted evaluation?"
Big City Districts With Notable MAP Programs
- Chicago Public Schools (CPS): Uses MAP for reading and math progress monitoring district-wide; scores inform selective enrollment school applications indirectly through teacher assessment data.
- Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (NC): One of the most MAP-integrated large districts in the country; uses MAP for AIG identification and magnet placement.
- Shelby County Schools (Memphis, TN): Broad MAP adoption for academic progress tracking and gifted referral.
- Portland Public Schools (OR): Long-standing MAP user; uses scores for differentiated instruction and some gifted services screening.
- Denver Public Schools (CO): Extensive MAP use across elementary and middle schools for placement and monitoring.
How to Find Out If Your District Uses MAP for Gifted Identification
Don't guess — ask directly. Here's the exact question to pose to your school's gifted coordinator (or gifted services department):
"Does our district use MAP RIT scores as part of the gifted identification process? If so, what percentile threshold triggers a referral, and what happens after a student is referred?"
If the answer is yes, follow up with: "When is the next MAP testing window, and how can we make sure my child is tested?" Most public school districts test all eligible students automatically, but it's worth confirming.
MAP vs. CogAT for Gifted Placement: What's the Difference?
Parents sometimes confuse MAP and CogAT because both are used in the gifted identification pipeline. They serve different purposes:
| Test | What It Measures | Role in Gifted ID |
|---|---|---|
| MAP (NWEA) | Academic achievement — what your child has learned in math and reading | Achievement screening: "Has this student mastered grade-level and above-grade-level content?" |
| CogAT | Cognitive ability — reasoning skills in verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal domains | Ability screening: "Does this student have the reasoning capacity for gifted services?" |
Most gifted identification processes require evidence of both high achievement (MAP) and high ability (CogAT or similar). A child can have very high MAP scores but average CogAT scores — perhaps because they've had intensive tutoring — and may not qualify. Conversely, a child with high CogAT scores but average MAP scores may be identified as "underachieving gifted" and still qualify in some districts.
The key point: MAP and CogAT are not interchangeable. Each answers a different question about your child's academic profile.
Practice MAP Skills Free
Whether your district uses MAP for placement, gifted screening, or both — we have free practice questions to help your child build the skills that matter.
Start MAP practice →Can You Opt Out of the MAP Test?
In most districts, yes — but the process and consequences vary by state and district.
- Federal law: No federal statute requires students to take the MAP. MAP is not a federally mandated assessment (unlike some state achievement tests that are tied to Title I accountability).
- State law: Some states (like California and Oregon) have explicit opt-out procedures for standardized testing. Others leave the decision entirely to districts.
- District policy: Most districts treat MAP as a diagnostic tool and allow opt-outs with a written request. However, opting out means your child will not have a MAP score — which matters if your district uses MAP for gifted screening or academic placement decisions.
If you're considering opting out of MAP: the most important question is whether your district uses MAP scores for decisions that benefit your child (gifted referral, advanced placement, etc.). If it does, opting out means your child won't have that data working in their favor.