About The Tests in District 5:

Access for MLs (Multiple Language Learners)

Students Tested

Students pre-screened or previously served as limited English proficient.

Subjects Tested

Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing

When Tested

Students are tested between the end of February to mid- March.

How Are Results Reported

Scores are reported to students, teachers, district, the State Department of Education and nationally.

How Results Are Used

Results are used to monitor student progress on an annual basis, to establish when ELLs have attained English language proficiency, and to inform classroom instruction and assessment.

WIN Ready to Work

Students Tested

All students in grades eleven

Subjects Tested

Reading for Information, Locating Information, and Applied Mathematics

When Tested

Spring State Testing Window

How Are Results Reported

Certificate levels for WIN Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC): Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum.  Scale scores and overall level scores are also reported.

How Results Are Used

Results identify job skill and are recognized by some employers using WIN NCRC system.  Results are also used to inform policy-makers and stakeholders, guide decision-making about professional development needs, and help teachers meet each student’s individual needs.

AP Examinations

Students Tested

Students who take an Advanced Placement course

Subjects Tested

Please visit course directories at our high schools for local courses available.  A list of all possible AP opportunities may be found at http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/home .

When Tested

Students are tested in the month of May.  A complete exam schedule may be found at http://apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/exam-dates-and-fees .

How Are Results Reported

Results are reported for accountability at the local, state and national levels.  Students receive individual score reports directly from College Board about two months after testing and may request that scores are sent to colleges of their choice according to the College Board fee schedule.

How Results Are Used

Results are used for local, state and federal accountability requirements.  Scores of 3 or higher may allow for college credit depending on the institution.

Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT)

Students Tested

All students in grade 2 and referred students in grades 3-5

Subjects Tested

Verbal-Picture Analogies, Sentence Completion, Picture Classification

Quantitative-Number Analogies, Number Puzzles, Number Series

Nonverbal-Figure Matrices, Paper Folding, Figure Classification

When Tested

Late October through Mid-November

How Are Results Reported

Scores are reported to students, teachers, district, and the State Department of Education.

How Results Are Used

Results are used to inform policy-makers and stakeholders, guide decision-making about placement into gifted and talented programs, and help teachers meet each student’s individual need.

End-of-Course Examination Program (EOCEP)

Students Tested

All students who enroll in a course in which the academic standards corresponding to the EOCEP tests are taught 

Subjects Tested

Algebra 1, Biology 1, English 2, US History

When Tested

Students are tested during the last twenty school days of the course.

How Are Results Reported

Students receive a total scale score.

How Results Are Used

Results are used for school, district, state and federal accountability requirements.  Scores represent twenty-percent of the student’s final course grade.

Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA)

Students Tested

Five Year Old Kindergarten

Subjects Tested

Mathematics, Language and Literacy, and Observation

When Tested

Students are tested during the first 45 days of school.

How Are Results Reported

Scores are reported to students, teachers, district, and the State Department of Education.

How Results Are Used

Results are used to inform policy-makers and stakeholders, guide decision-making about professional development needs, and help teachers meet each student’s individual needs.

National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)

Students Tested

Samples of students from grades four, eight and twelve

Subjects Tested

Arts, civics, economics, geography, mathematics, reading, science, technology and engineering literacy, US History, and writing

When Tested

Usually between the third week of January and the first week of March

How Are Results Reported

Results are reported on the Nation’s Report Card, but are never reported for individual students or schools. 

How Results Are Used

Results are reported for populations of students, groups within populations, and percentiles.  They are used to inform educators, parents, and policymakers of what students know and can do in key subjects.

Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening (PALS)

Students Tested

Four Year Old Kindergarten

Subjects Tested

Name Writing, Alphabet Knowledge, Beginning Sound Awareness, Print and Word Awareness, Rhyme Awareness and Nursery Rhyme Awareness

When Tested

Students are tested during the first 45 days of school and last 45 days of school.

How Are Results Reported

Scores are reported to students, teachers, district, and the State Department of Education.

How Results Are Used

Results are used to inform policy-makers and stakeholders, guide decision-making about professional development needs, and help teachers meet each student’s individual needs.

Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT)

Students Tested

All students in their second year of high school and other students that desire to take the test and pay the required fee

Subjects Tested

Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and Mathematics

When Tested

Mid - October

How Are Results Reported

Scores and sub-scores in Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and Mathematics are reported to individual students and schools.

How Results Are Used

Results are used by students, teachers and counselors in guiding students in areas where they need more work to obtain the optimum level of readiness for their career path.  PSAT scores will help predict how well students will perform on the SAT and will help students determine if the SAT or ACT would be a better college entrance examination.  Finally, results are used to select students for a national scholarship program called the National Merit Scholarship.

South Carolina Palmetto Assessment of State Standards (SCPASS)

Students Tested

Students in grades four and six will take the SCPASS test for science. 

Subjects Tested

2014 South Carolina Academic Standards and Performance Indicators for Science

When Tested

Students are tested during the last twenty school days of the school year.

How Are Results Reported

Students receive a total scale score, overall performance level-Exemplary, Met, Approaches, or Not Met-for each test.

How Results Are Used

Results are used for school, district, state and federal accountability requirements.  Scores are also use to guide instructional planning and to help individualize student learning paths.

South Carolina College and Career Ready Assessments (SC READY)

Students Tested

Students in grades three through eight

Subjects Tested

English Language Arts – 2015 South Carolina College and Career Ready Standards for English Language Arts

Mathematics – 2015 South Carolina College and Career Ready Standards for Mathematics

When Tested

Students are tested during the last twenty school days of the school year.

How Are Results Reported

Students receive a total scale score, overall performance level-Exceeds Expectations, Meets Expectations, and Does Not Meet Expectations-and state percentile rank for each test.  In addition, students will receive a lexile score in ELA and a quantile score in math which will be used to project college readiness.

Students will receive an individual score report that summarizes their performance on the SCREADY assessment.

How Results Are Used

Results are used for school, district, state and federal accountability requirements.  Scores are also use to guide instructional planning and to help individualize student learning paths.