Standardized test scores are not the only measure of a school’s quality. These tests are designed to assess an individual student’s performance compared to all students nationally. They do not compare a school’s quality to other schools. Many other factors should affect your decision about which school your child should attend, including: educational philosophy, curriculum quality, teacher credentials, class size, location, cost, availability of resources, discipline policy, opportunities for parental involvement and communications.
Our students take the following standardized tests:
- NWEA® MAP® Growth™ – This multiple choice test is taken three times each year by all students in grades 2 through 8.
- Assessment of Children Religious Education (ACRE) Exam – This test is taken in the Fall by 8th graders and in the Spring by 5th
The NWEA® MAP® Growth™ assessments are given to all students in grades 2 through 8 three times each year. This practice reveals how much growth has occurred between testing events and combined with other norms, shows projected proficiency. Reliable insights make it simple for teachers to find common areas of need among their students, identify students who could benefit from intervention, and determine which instructional strategies are generating the most academic growth. Higher-level reports provide administrators with the context to drive improvement across entire schools and educational systems. MAP Growth student reports also present realistic learning goals by subject areas so that, through a teacher’s guidance, students can individually see their progress and be inspired to take charge of their own learning.
The ACRE Exam measures students’ knowledge about the Catholic faith, beliefs, behaviors, attitudes and practices. Scores on this test are determined by what percentile the students places into compared to Catholic school peers on the same level of the exam. Fifth graders take the Level 1 exam and eighth and ninth graders take the Level 2 exam. Scores below the 64th percentile suggest improvement is needed, scores between the 64th and 86th percentile reflect proficiency, and scores above the 86th percentile indicate advanced knowledge. This test is taken in the Fall by 8th graders and in the Spring by 5th graders.
