Student Assessments

The American College Test, better known as the ACT, is a college entrance exam most high school students take in the 11th grade. This exam is divided into four sections: English, Reading, Math, and Science. 

Students can also take an additional Writing section, which some colleges may require.

The Accuplacer is a series of tests that evaluate a student's preparedness for college-level courses. These exams are typically focused on mathematics, reading, and writing skills.

The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, also known as the ASVAB, is an aptitude test that all students take to assist in their carer exploration and planning. This test measures developed skills and helps support academic and occupational success.

Students are in no way obligated to consider a military career.

Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS) are the state’s common measurement of students’ progress at the end of the school year in English language arts, math, science and social studies. CMAS assessments are standards-based and are designed to measure the Colorado Academic Standards (CAS). Students from third through eighth grade will take CMAS tests in English language arts and math. Students in the fifth, eighth and 11th grades will take the CMAS science tests. A sampling of students in the fourth and seventh grades will take the CMAS social studies tests.

• CMAS Fact Sheet - English (pdf) | Spanish (pdf)

• Colorado Department of Education Video explaining CMAS

• Colorado Alternative Assessment (CoAlt) / Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM)
  The Alternate Assessments are designed to measure what students with significant cognitive disabilities know and can do. Students with an Individual Education Plan (IEP) who are not able to take CMAS will instead take the Colorado Alternate Assessments in Science and Social Studies, and the Dynamic Learning Maps for English Language Arts and Math.

The Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) is the screener used to assist in the identification of gifted students.

PSAT 8/9, PSAT 10
The PSAT (pre-SAT) for 9th and 10th graders aligns to the literacy and mathematics expectations in Colorado. The PSAT measures the same skills and knowledge as the SAT in a way that makes sense for ninth and tenth graders. It focuses on the knowledge, skills, and understandings that research has identified as most important for college and career readiness and success.

SAT
11th grade students take the SAT as the college entrance exam for Colorado. 

• PSAT/SAT Fact Sheet (pdf)

Parent/Guardian Opt-Out for PSAT/SAT 

The parent/guardian of a student enrolled in the district may request that their child be exempt from participating in one or more state assessments.

1. The request for exemption must submit a written, signed request to the school principal.
2. The parent/guardian will not be required to state the reason for asking for the exemption.
3. The request for exemption may apply to all or specific state assessments administered to the student during the school year.
4. A request for exemption will be valid for one year.  Requests for exemption from state assessments in subsequent school years require a new written request.
5. Parents/guardians are encouraged to submit their requests for exemption at the earliest possible date each school year so that the district may plan accordingly.

Please remember, the assessment results are used by educators for instructional planning, class placement, and academic screening and that this information will not be available to your child's educators.

Eagle County School District administers the Star Assessments for grades K-12.  Star Assessments include Star Early Literacy, Star Reading and Star Math. They are short tests that provide teachers with personalized learning data for each student.

Star tests are computer adaptive, which means they adjust in difficulty to each answer students provide. This helps teachers get the best data to help students in the shortest amount of testing time (about one-third of the time other tests require). Students may take a Star test for early literacy, math, or reading. Teachers analyze the data they receive from Star Assessments to learn what students already know and what they are ready to learn next, to monitor student growth, and to determine which students may need additional help.

Star Assessments are research-based and scientifically proven to help teachers guide each student on their unique path to proficiency.

Teaching Strategies (TS) Gold is an ongoing, observation-based assessment for preschool and kindergarten students. It meets the state requirements of the school readiness assessment.

Teaching Strategies GOLD can be used with any developmentally appropriate early childhood curriculum and is based on 38 research-based objectives that include predictors of school success and are aligned with the Common Core State Standards, state early learning guidelines, and the Head Start Child Development and Early Learning Framework. Provides specific strategies and resources for every type of learner, including dual-language learners and those with special needs.

The WIDA-ACCESS Placement Test (W-APT) is the screener used to assist in the identification of Kindergarten students that qualify for English Language Acquisition programming.

WIDA Screener is an English Language proficiency assessment given to incoming students in Grades 1-12 to assist educators with the identification of students as English language learners.

In accordance with the accompanying policies, IKA Grading/Assessment Systems, IKA-R Grading/Assessment Systems, the parent/guardian of a student enrolled in the district may request that his or her child be excused from participating in one or more state assessments.

1. The request for excusal must be submitted online via the ECSD Informed K12 State Assessment Parent/Guardian Excusal Form and electronically signed by the parent no later than March 30th. Link to the online excusal form may be obtained by emailing the school principal. To email your school principal, please go to the school website, click on “contact” icon and then click on the “Email the Principal” icon
2. Excusals will not be granted even in last-minute circumstances after the first testing session of any assessment has been started.

3. The parent/guardian will not be required to state the reason for asking for the exemption.

4. The request for excusal will apply only to the selected specific state assessments administered to the student during the school year.

5. A request for excusal will be valid for one year.  Requests for excusal from state assessments in subsequent school years require a new written request.

6. Parents/guardians are encouraged to submit their requests for excusal at the earliest possible date each school year so that the district may plan accordingly.