ASSESSMENTS

The Wisconsin Forward Exam provides information regarding how well students are doing in relation to the Wisconsin Academic Standards in a variety of subject areas

• Grades 3-8 (English Language Arts and Mathematics)
• Grades 4 & 8 (Science)
• Grades 4, 8, & 10 (Social Studies)

Spring, annually

Individual Student Reports, provided to families in the summer following testing, indicate the student's scores based on their performance (demonstrating their knowledge and skill in relation to the grade-level standards) in each content area. Each score falls in one of four performance levels: Advanced, Proficient, Basic, and Below Basic. Data is used at the state level for accountability and is displayed on yearly state report cards. At the district/school/classroom level, data is used to monitor and improve instructional programs.

Use this link to learn more about the Wisconsin Forward Exam.

Use this link to learn more about student performance levels. 

The PreACT Secure measures what students have learned in the areas of English, Reading, Mathematics, and Science and predicts how students will perform on the ACT when they reach 11th grade 

Grades 9 & 10

Spring, annually

Individual Student Reports, provided to families in the summer following testing, indicate the student's scores on a scale of 1-35 along with their performance on ACT Readiness Benchmarks and predicted ACT scores. Data is used at the state level for accountability and is displayed on yearly state report cards. At the district/school/classroom level, data is used to help teachers and counselors plan instruction and intervention.

Use this link to learn more about the PreACT high school assessments. 

Use this link to break down each part of your score report, learn how scores are calculated, and make informed decisions about your future.

The ACT with Writing assesses students' academic readiness for college in English, Mathematics, Reading, Science, and Writing

Grade 11

Spring, annually

Student Score Reports, provided to families in the summer following testing, indicate the student's scores on a scale of 1-36 in each subject area, along with a composite score. Data is used at the state level for accountability and is displayed on yearly state report cards based on state-established performance levels of Advanced, Proficient, Basic, and Below Basic. At the district/school/classroom level, data is used for evaluating the effectiveness of instruction and planning changes and improvements in the curriculum.

Use this link to learn more about the ACT high school assessments. 

Use this link to break down each part of your score report, learn how scores are calculated, and make informed decisions about your future.

The Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) measures the academic progress of students with the most significant cognitive disabilities in a variety of subject areas

• Grades 3-11 (English Language Arts and Mathematics)
• Grades 4 & 8-11 (Science)
• Grades 4, 8, & 10 (Social Studies)

Spring, annually

Individual Student Reports, provided to families in the spring or summer following testing, include a Performance Profile (indicating the student’s performance level of Emerging, Approaching Target, At Target, or Advanced for each tested subject) and Learning Profile (displaying the Wisconsin Essential Elements on which the student was tested). Data is used at the state level for accountability and is displayed on yearly state report cards. At the classroom level, data is used for instructional planning, monitoring, and adjustment, as well as for developing IEPs, communicating with parents, and communicating with other educators.

Use this link to learn more about the DLM assessment. 

ACCESS for ELLs determines the English language proficiency level of students identified as multilingual learners

Grades K-12

Winter, annually until dismissal from ML services

Individual Score Reports (ISRs) are sent home to families in the spring following test scoring. Score reports indicate a child’s level of English language proficiency on a scale of 1 (Entering) to 6 (Reaching) in Oral Language, Literacy, Comprehension, and Overall areas. Data is used at the state level for accountability purposes; at the district/school/classroom level, data is used for planning and instructional purposes for multilingual learners.

Use this link to learn more about the ACCESS assessment. 

Use this link to learn more about the ACCESS assessment scores. 

Evaluates students’ reading-related skills and abilities, including skills in phonemic awareness and letter sound knowledge

Grades K4-3 (reading only)

Fall, Winter, Spring

Students whose scores indicate that they are at risk of reading difficulty (scoring below the 25th percentile) are identified using data from this assessment and are assigned a Personal Reading Plan (PRP). Students with a PRP receive targeted small-group or one-on-one intervention in reading, in addition to high-quality core instruction.

The CogAT assessment appraises level and pattern of verbal, quantitative, and spatial (nonverbal) reasoning abilities for students; used as a screening tool for Gifted and Talented identification

Screener provided to all students in Grade 3 (and new students in Grades 4 & 5); full assessment provided to students scoring above average on screener

Fall, annually for selected population

Screener results are shared with families after the initial administration, and full battery results are shared with families of qualifying students. At the classroom level, data is used by teachers to adapt instruction to build from relative student strengths and shore up weaknesses. Scores are used in conjunction with other evidence to identify students for Gifted and Talented services.

The Fastbridge (earlyMath) provides a general overview of student skills in mathematics

Fall, Winter, Spring

Grades K4-1

Assessment results are shared with families at school-year conferences, where teachers review students’ skill strengths and areas for growth. At the district/school/classroom level, results help teachers identify students’ instructional levels and areas for skill development. Teachers use this information to help guide instruction in the classroom and create flexible groupings to better differentiate lessons based on content. Data is used in conjunction with other academic data to develop a comprehensive picture of student achievement.

The NWEA Measures of Academic Progress (MAP Growth) provides a general overview of student skills in English Language Arts and mathematics

• Grades 2-8 (mathematics)
•  Grades 4-8 (reading)

Fall, Winter, Spring

Student score reports  are provided to families, where students receive a numeric score as well as a national norm percentile to indicate where their score falls in relation to grade-level peers. At the district/school/classroom level, results help teachers identify students’ instructional levels and areas for skill development. Teachers use this information to help guide instruction in the classroom and create flexible groupings to better differentiate lessons based on content. Data is used in conjunction with other academic data to develop a comprehensive picture of student achievement. 

• What is MAP Growth? - Video 2:50
• MAP Growth: Family Toolkit 

The practice PreACT & ACT measures what students have learned in the areas of English, Reading, Mathematics, and Science

Grades 9 & 11

Fall, annually

Students are scored on a scale of 1-35 (PreACT) or 1-36 (ACT) along with their performance on ACT Readiness Benchmarks. At the district/school/classroom level, data is used to help teachers and counselors plan instruction and intervention.