Lexile Range And/or RIT Score for Kindergartner

Updated on February 07, 2013
E.M. asks from Chicago, IL
7 answers

My son, who is in Kindergarten, just rec'd his MAP scores back. Hix Lexile range is 33-183. I can't really figure out what that means. Anyone out there able to give me a close approximation of what his reading grade level is? His RIT for reading i 174 and math is 170.

Thanks!

1 mom found this helpful

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

More Answers

T.S.

answers from San Francisco on

Why don't you just ask his teacher, or whoever it was that administered the test?

2 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

☆.A.

answers from Pittsburgh on

You can use the Lexile score to choose books around his reading level. For example, Harry Potter is 880 Lexile ( obviously way too advanced for him!)
Google Lexile scores & RIT and you'll better understand these measurements.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.K.

answers from Chicago on

http://www.lexile.com/about-lexile/lexile-overview/
You can read about lexile measures here, there is also a section on this page that discusses the grade equivalent and why they try to avoid that kind of labeling.
The rit scale is something I am not familiar with so you can check this site to see if it is what you are referring to
http://www.nwea.org/support/article/532
I would also talk to your child's teacher and discuss what they do with these scores, what impact they have on his individual education.
That is what really matters.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

H.W.

answers from Portland on

I found this link for you.
http://teacher.scholastic.com/products/sri_reading_assess...

This explains the lexile score; if you scroll further down, there is a table which shows average Lexile scores for grades 1-12; they do not have a K entry here. My guess is that if he's between those numbers, and the Lexile for mid-year for first grade is 200-400, he's probably doing pretty well.

You do want to talk with your son's teacher about further info. However, if you are seeing development in this area at home (recognizing sight words and acquiring recognition of the words introduced at school), he's probably okay.

B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

I just love these numbers.
Your child takes a test, they come back with this number and then you have a fun time trying to figure out what it means and what to do with it.
You go to a lot of these web sites and they go on for pages telling you how great it is without actually giving you much in the way of helpful information.

Here is what I eventually found:

Approximate Lexile Range Related to Grade Level Reading

BR = Below first grade
Grade 1 200-400
Grade 2 300-500
Grade 3 420-700
Grade 4 600-830
Grade 5 800-920
Grade 6 ###-###-####
Grade 7 ###-###-####
Grade 8 1000-1120
Grade 9 1020-1150
Grade 10 1100-1200
Grade 11 1130-1230
Grade 12 1200-1310
College Freshman/Sophomore 1200-1450
College Junior/Senior 1300-1500
Graduate School 1480-1700

Your son's score tells you at about what grade level at which he is reading.
The goal here is to select books for him to read which are at or slightly above his level so that he's not struggling with books that are too hard for him but also allow him to stretch his abilities and progress to the next level.

I never bothered with it.
MY goal was to find books that interested my son because if he was enjoying reading he'd get so involved with the story he didn't mind or care how difficult the book was.
When his numbers are sent home from school - I use them to gauge how he's doing and they give me some bragging points.
In the 3rd grade, he was reading Harry Potter books on his own.
His school librarian could not believe it.
At that time his Lexile score said he was reading at a 9th grade level.
All THAT meant was that most of the books in his elementary school library were too easy for him.
Now he's 14 and in 8th grade and they just brought back their scores a few months ago.
His English teacher saw his score and said "Wow - this is the highest score I've ever seen.".
He maxed out the test at 1700+.
SO, he's in middle school and reading at a graduate school level.
I continue to get him books that interest him - though it costs me a fortune at the book store - but I also buy used/2nd hand books when ever I can.
We probably should use the public library more than we do.

You can use the number or not.
There's certainly more than one way to help them learn to love reading.

V.W.

answers from Jacksonville on

http://www.lexile.com/

It gives you an idea of what range of books your child should be reading. A book that is a lexile score of 33 should be relatively easy for him. One that is 183, should be a bit of a challenge for him. But the lexile score has nothing to do with content appropriateness. You can pull up suggested books by their lexile score, I believe.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.A.

answers from Chicago on

Well, first of all, I have never heard of a district giving the regular MAP to kindergarteners. There is a MAP for Primary that we used years ago, but it wasn't very useful. The norms table for MAP can be found at http://www.nwea.org/support/article/normative-data-2011
This is basically just a guide to show what the expectations/average is for a grade level at a certain time of year. It's not very helpful in finding books for a kindergartner. Most districts/schools use another test to see what level a kindergartner and/or first grader is at; either Fountas & Pinnell (a letter: A,B, C for Kindergarten) or a number from Developmental Reading Assessment or Reading Recovery. I would ask your son's teacher about it.
According to the numbers you gave, it sounds like your son is about beginning to middle first grade level in both reading and math; however, that is the mean or median score, not a "high" first grader. Good luck!

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions