Dear Osprey Students and Families,
As we communicated in
this lette
r
that we sent out last fall, in April students in grades 9 through 11 will take standardized tests at AHS during the regular school day, free of charge to families.
Students perform better on tests when they are well rested and well fed. Please be sure to get a good night’s sleep the night before the tests.
In order to make sure no one goes into testing hungry, we are
asking families to help us provide snacks for our students on testing day
. Please consider helping; you can select items on this
snack sign up
and bring donations to us in the Main Office by 3:30 on Monday, April 13.
TESTING SCHEDULE
:
9th grade
10th grade
11th grade
We will have early release on April 14 at 12:30,
after testing is complete (students with accommodations for extra time or those who are taking the essay portion of the SAT will finish later than this).
Seniors are not required to come to school on this date.
We will provide the opportunity for students who are absent on the scheduled dates to make up the tests.
Juniors will also have early release on Tuesday, April 21 after CMAS at 11:30.
Preparing for the Tests
There are many resources available for students to do independent preparation beyond what we offer at AHS (which includes an SAT prep elective for juniors), some for free and some with a cost attached. We recommend clicking on the links above to learn more about the format of each test. You’ll see that the College Board suggests the best way to prepare for the PSATs is essentially to be an engaged learner.
Khan Academy has partnered with College Board to offer online test prep that is free and personalized; you can access that
here
. For more resources, visit AHS College Counselor Jess Adams’ digital portfolio
here
.
Being familiar with the format of the test and doing a few practice tests ahead of time can help students improve their scores. Arriving on the day of testing well rested and fed, helps, too!
Accessing and Understanding Individual Test Scores
The fastest way to access PSAT and SAT scores is by creating student accounts on the
College Board website
and then checking those about three weeks after taking exams. Students will always receive scores before the school does for college entrance exams.
Opting Out
We recognize that some families have strong feelings about standardized testing and choose to opt out of them. It’s important to understand the impact of opting out of standardized tests.
Many colleges rely on the SAT and/or ACT scores in determining college admission, though some do not, and some scholarships are awarded based upon test scores. For students, taking the tests that lead up to the SAT can help improve their performance and scores, as they become more familiar with the format and practice the skill of test taking.
Also, when we are evaluated, as a school, by our authorizer--the Colorado Charter School Institute (CSI)--and the by the Colorado Department of Education, student test scores are a key data point. Having all students participate in standardized testing gives us the most accurate picture of our data.
That said, we also want to be clear that no students or family will face negative consequences from the school for opting out of state assessments.
We recognize and respect that this is a decision you will each make individually, and only ask that you make an informed choice.
If you do choose to opt out, please submit a letter expressing your decision to the Main Office, signed by a parent or guardian.
Parent refusal notices will be gathered and maintained by Libby Cowles, Assistant Head of School.
As always, please don’t hesitate to share your questions, thoughts and concerns with us.
