Dear Osprey Students and Families,
At Animas High School, we assess learning in lots of ways, using innovative strategies like Exhibitions, Student-Led Conferences and Presentations of Learning in addition to more traditional methods such as papers, quizzes and exams. Standardized tests are a piece of the assessment puzzle, too, as they provide data that helps us examine student growth and how we’re doing as a school. Our administration, staff and School Excellence Committee analyze test scores annually, looking for trends and refining our practices to support student success.
We are proud that for every year in our entire history as a school, the Colorado Department of Education has named AHS a Performance School, their highest performance rating, based on achievement and growth on state assessments along with postsecondary measures such as graduation rates, drop-out rates, college entrance exams and college matriculation rates.
The SAT and ACT can play an important role in determining college and scholarship options for students, and we take seriously our role in preparing them for these tests. We have students practice for the SAT by taking grade-appropriate PSAT tests in 9th, 10th and 11th grades, following up after they’ve taken the tests to help them see where they were most successful and where they can focus to do better the next time around. This helps them build skills to do their best when they take the SAT in the spring of junior year.
Wednesday April 13, 2022:
-
9th graders take the PSAT8/9 which will take about 2.5 hours for students to complete
-
10th graders take the PSAT10 which will take approximately 2.75 hours
-
11th graders take the SAT which will take about 3 hours
Classes will be canceled on this date and all students will be released at 12:30 or once they have finished taking the exam; those with extended time will be released later than other students.
The PSAT8/9, PSAT10, PSAT/NMSQT and SAT will be administered using pencil and paper. There is no cost to families for any of these tests.
Wednesday, April 20, 2022:
-
11th graders take the CMAS Science test which is about 2.5 hours long.
Juniors will be excused from morning classes on Wednesday, April 20 but will be expected to attend Advisory and XBlock in the afternoon.
The CMAS will be administered online rather than with pencil and paper; we have determined, in consultation with staff and parents, that this is the most efficient and effective method and the AHS Board of Directors has approved this decision.
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 there about three weeks after taking an exam. Students will always receive scores before the school does for all college entrance exams.
Preparing for the Tests
We believe that being engaged in their learning is a key contributing factor to student success on standardized tests. Our teachers are intentional in the way they teach content and skills that the PSAT, SAT and ACT measure. That said, there are many resources available for students to do independent preparation beyond what we offer during the school day at AHS, some for free and some with a cost attached. We offer an SAT preparation elective and teachers help students prepare in core math classes as well.
Kahn Academy has partnered with College Board to offer online test prep that is free and personalized; you can access that here. Being familiar with the format of the test and doing practice tests ahead of time can also help students improve their scores. Arriving on the day of testing well rested and fed, helps, too, of course.
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. Many colleges have been test-optional for admission since 2020 due to COVID-19, and many have already committed to remaining test optional for the application cycle that impacts the class of 2023. Students and families can see which colleges are test optional by visiting fairtest.org.
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 an email or letter signed by a parent/guardian to libby.cowles@animashighschool.com. Please submit Opt Out Letters no later than the day before the exam. Opt Out Letters will be gathered and maintained by Libby Cowles, Assistant Head of School.
We will keep you posted if we make any changes or additions to the testing schedule outlined here. As always, please don’t hesitate to share your questions, thoughts and concerns with us.
