Middle School Assessments

State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR®)

STAAR is an assessment program designed to measure the extent to which students have learned and are able to apply the knowledge and skills defined in the state-mandated curriculum standards, the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). Every STAAR question is directly aligned to the TEKS currently implemented for the grade/subject or course being assessed. STAAR includes assessments for:

• Mathematics in grades 6-8
• Reading language arts (RLA) in grades 6-8
• Science in grade 8
• Social studies in grade 8
• End-of-course (EOC) assessment for Algebra I in grade 8

STAAR Alternate 2 (STAAR Alt 2) is designed to assess students in grades 3–8 and high school who have significant cognitive disabilities and are receiving special education services. STAAR Alt 2 includes assessments for:

• Mathematics in grades 6-8
• Reading language arts (RLA) in grades 6-8
• Science in grade 8
• Social studies in grade 8
• End-of-course (EOC) assessment for Algebra I in grade 8

STAAR field test: Districts can be chosen to participate in field tests to make sure that newly-developed items measure what they were intended to measure. Field testing contributes to the development of fair, high-quality tests. Students do not receive scores on field-test items. It is best practice to field test all items prior to using them to calculate a student’s score. An item should not contribute to a student’s score until the item has been shown to be accurate, fair and valid.

Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System (TELPAS/TELPAS Alt)

TEA designed the Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System (TELPAS) and Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System Alternate (TELPAS Alt) to assess the progress that emergent bilingual (EB) students make in learning the English language. TELPAS Alt meets the federal requirement mandated under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which requires states to administer an alternate English language proficiency assessment for EB students with the most significant cognitive disabilities who cannot participate in the general ELP assessment, even with allowable accommodations.

Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Growth

Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Growth uses a RIT (Rasch UnIT) scale to accurately measure what students know, regardless of their grade level. It also measures growth over time, allowing you to track your child’s progress throughout the school year and across multiple years. Once your child completes a MAP Growth test, they receive a RIT score. MAP Growth includes assessments for:

• Mathematics in grades 6-8
• Reading in grades 6-8
• Science in grades 6-8

Fall & Spring Benchmark Assessments

The purpose of a benchmark exam is to understand if students have mastered specific standards and are ready to move on. Benchmark exams are given to help students prepare for end of year state testing. Our locally-developed benchmark assessments include:

• Mathematics in grades 6-8
• Reading language arts (RLA) in grades 6-8
• Science in grade 8
• Social studies in grade 8

Semester Exams

Semester exams/projects will be administered in all high school credit courses [EIA (LOCAL)] offered at middle school and high school campuses. The semester exam/project will count as 10% of the semester grade. Semester exams/projects will be given in the fall and spring.

Texas Middle School Fluency Assessment (TMSFA)

Students who do not meet standard on the grade 6 STAAR RLA test must be administered a diagnostic assessment in grade 7. TMSFA was developed to be a valid and reliable instrument for determining students’ areas of instructional need.

Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test (NNAT)/Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT)

NNAT is a nonverbal measure of general ability for students in kindergarten through grade 12.

CoGAT assesses a student’s academic aptitude and gifted abilities.

National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) – Mann only

NAEP provides important information about student achievement and learning experiences in various subjects. Mann 8th graders will take reading and math in spring 2024.