ACT Aspire Assessment Tests

The ACT Aspire assessment was introduced for the first time during the 2015-2016 school year and is now administered annually to all students in third through eighth grades.

In fall, winter and early spring of each school year three Aspire interim assessments are administered in preparation for the summative test in April. All students in grades three through eight use Chromebooks to complete online assessment tests in the core subjects of English, math, reading and science. The interim assessment results are for internal use, to establish a baseline and provide important progress indicators as we move toward the Aspire summative assessment in April, which is completed with pencil and paper bubble sheets.

Aspire Summative Assessment Results

Our summative assessment results from April of 2017 and 2016 can be viewed here.

Aspire is the first step in a vertical assessment system designed to connect student performance with readiness benchmarks as they progress chronologically from third grade through high school. Anchored by the ACT–the leading college assessment exam–Aspire maps learner progress using comprehensive academic guideposts to provide actionable information and insight to prepare students for higher education. This parent overview on ACT's web site provides more information about the Aspire asssessments.

TerraNova Testing

Our school historically administered TerraNova tests to students in third, fifth and seventh grades every year; the final year of TerraNova testing was in 2015. Our test results demonstrate that our students achieved scores above the national average for all test categories. Millions of students across the country take the TerraNova tests; by comparing their scores a national norm is established which indicates students' performance at different grade levels. This national norm is set at 50. Scores above 50 indicate that students are performing above the norm; scores below 50, that they are performing below.

TerraNova Scores Spring 2015

Reflects the percent of students at or above the national mean:

Subject	National	Grade 3	Grade 5	Grade 7
Reading	50	90	94	95.1
Language	50	88	93.9	98.3
Math	50	84	93.9	98.3
Total Score	50	92	94	98.3
Science	50	100	96.9	85.3
Social Studies	50	98	97	98.4

 

Reflects national percentile of the mean NCE (NP of MNCE):

Subject	National	Grade 3	Grade 5	Grade 7
Reading	50	84	83	82
Language	50	86	87	89
Math	50	84	85	92
Total Score	50	87	88	92
Science	50	87	94	77
Social Studies	50	90	86	88

 

NP of Mean NCE is the national percentile rank of the average score of the group of students tested. For example, a grade 7 Math NP of MNCE score of 92 means the average student in 7th grade is ranked higher than 92% of the nation in Math.