“Good” is always grade-relative on MAP. A Math RIT score of 220 is at the 99th percentile for a Grade 3 student and below average for an 8th grader. Find your child's grade in the tables below before evaluating the score.
The Four Bands That Matter
Rather than memorising percentile tables, most parents find it easier to think in four bands: below average (below the 25th percentile), on track (25th–74th percentile, near the national average), strong (75th–89th percentile), and gifted range (90th percentile and above). The gifted-range band is the one most parents are asking about — it is the threshold at which most US districts automatically initiate a gifted programme referral.
These bands are based on the NWEA 2020 national norming study — the most recently published norms, which remain the current reference for the 2025–26 school year. All scores are fall administration benchmarks.
MAP Math: Good Scores by Grade (Fall 2025–26)
| Grade | Below Average (<25th %ile) | On Track (50th %ile avg) | Strong (75th %ile) | Gifted Range (90th %ile) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten | <137 | 144 | 154 | 162+ |
| Grade 1 | <155 | 163 | 173 | 181+ |
| Grade 2 | <170 | 178 | 188 | 196+ |
| Grade 3 | <180 | 188 | 199 | 208+ |
| Grade 4 | <190 | 197 | 208 | 217+ |
| Grade 5 | <197 | 205 | 216 | 225+ |
| Grade 6 | <203 | 211 | 222 | 231+ |
| Grade 7 | <207 | 215 | 226 | 235+ |
| Grade 8 | <211 | 218 | 229 | 238+ |
| Grade 9 | <212 | 220 | 231 | 240+ |
Source: NWEA 2020 MAP Growth Norms for Student and School Achievement Status and Growth.
MAP Reading: Good Scores by Grade (Fall 2025–26)
| Grade | Below Average (<25th %ile) | On Track (50th %ile avg) | Strong (75th %ile) | Gifted Range (90th %ile) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten | <145 | 155 | 164 | 172+ |
| Grade 1 | <158 | 167 | 177 | 185+ |
| Grade 2 | <174 | 182 | 192 | 201+ |
| Grade 3 | <182 | 191 | 202 | 211+ |
| Grade 4 | <194 | 203 | 213 | 222+ |
| Grade 5 | <200 | 211 | 221 | 229+ |
| Grade 6 | <205 | 214 | 224 | 231+ |
| Grade 7 | <209 | 219 | 228 | 235+ |
| Grade 8 | <212 | 221 | 231 | 237+ |
| Grade 9 | <213 | 222 | 232 | 238+ |
Source: NWEA 2020 MAP Growth Norms for Student and School Achievement Status and Growth.
What to Do With Each Band
Ask your school's gifted coordinator whether your child is automatically referred for evaluation — many districts require a parent to initiate it. Bring your MAP Family Report to the conversation. If your district uses CogAT alongside MAP, request that testing as well. See our guide to gifted programme testing.
No urgent action needed. Consider enrichment in the strong subject — a subject-specific club, competition maths, or accelerated reading — to maintain momentum. Monitor the next test window to see whether the score moves toward gifted range. A student consistently at the 80th+ percentile who is not challenged may disengage.
Grade-level performance is appropriate. Focus on growth: is the gain between test windows matching the expected norm for the grade? A student at the 50th percentile showing below-expected growth may need support even though the absolute score looks average.
Request a teacher conference and ask which specific skill gaps MAP identified. MAP reports include a Learning Continuum that maps each RIT range to exact skills — this is more useful than the score alone. Subject-specific support (targeted tutoring or online tools at the right Lexile/difficulty) is more effective than general preparation.
Why RIT Scores Must Always Be Read by Grade
The RIT scale is continuous from Kindergarten through Grade 12 — which makes it easy to misread. A parent who sees RIT 220 and looks at an adult benchmark may feel reassured, but without comparing to the grade-level norm, the number is meaningless. The tables above are the correct reference point.
If your child's score falls exactly at the 50th percentile for their grade, it does not mean they are performing at exactly “grade level” in the way school grades imply. It means their MAP score matches the national average for students tested in the same grade at the same time of year. That is a different — and in some ways more useful — reference point. For a deeper explanation of how MAP scores work, see the complete MAP scores guide.
Convert any RIT score to a percentile instantly
Enter grade, subject, and RIT score into our free calculator — see the exact national percentile and the gifted cut-off for your district.