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Central Kitsap School District

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Assessments & Tests

Assessments & Tests

We use several methods to monitor students’ progress. Teachers observe how students perform in the classroom, and assessments are administered. Assessments range from quick skill checks that take only a few minutes to more comprehensive state tests that may take several hours. Each tool helps us understand your child’s learning and ensure they receive the support they need to succeed.

No single assessment can show the full picture of your child’s progress. Each assessment provides insight into academic, behavioral, and social-emotional skills. When combined, these results help you and your child’s teacher work together to support your student’s academic achievement. 

Resources

Please use the resources below to learn more about the assessments and ways to use the results to support your student:

Assessments Given to CK Students

  • The Acadience tests are a series of quick assessments that measure literacy skills in elementary students. Each test is about a minute long. Acadience tests measure your child’s ability to recognize sounds and letters, comprehend what they read, and other skills. Acadience results can help teachers better understand students’ reading ability and check their progress.

  • Naglieri assessment is one of our screening tools to evaulate potentially Highly Capable students.You can find more information about the Highly Capable Program on our website.

  • The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) tests students on a variety of subjects from writing to technology and engineering literacy. The U.S. Department of Education provides the tests to schools nationwide. NAEP tests are given periodically to students in grades 4, 8 and 12.

  • We use STAR tests to measure math and reading skills of students in kindergarten through ninth grades. They help us check your child’s achievement levels so we can better understand how to challenge them and help them grow. We use STAR tests several times a year to check your child’s progress.

    The tests usually take about 20 minutes. Students take the tests online. The more they get right, the harder the test becomes.

  • The Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA) measures how well students meet state learning standards in math and English/Language Arts. The standards help keep students on track for college or careers.

    Students in grades 3 through 8 and 11 take the SBA in spring. Some schools also give students an interim SBA in the fall or winter. Interim tests can help teachers see what specific skills students may need to work on before the full test in the spring.

    SBA questions and activities focus on analysis and critical thinking. They include performance tasks about real-world scenarios. For example, students create math formulas to help a city understand if its speeding fines are fair. The tests are also adaptive, meaning the more a student gets right, the harder the questions become.

    Scores measure how well students understand concepts and can apply the skills they’ve learned.  Scores are placed in levels 1 through 4. Levels 1 and 2 mean a student needs extra help to get back on track. Scores in levels 3 and 4 mean that students are on track for college and careers.

    You child's SBA results will be made available online through PowerSchool Parent Access. 

  • The 5th, 8th, and 11th grade students take the Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS). The WCAS measures the level of proficiency that Washington students have achieved based on the Washington State K-12 Science Learning Standards.

  • The Whole-child Assessment is not a test, but a practice that allows teachers to observe children while they're engaged in everyday activities (transitions, instruction, learning centers, etc.) This is an opportunity for children to show their skills, knowledge, and abilities in an authentic way as they interact with the learning environment.

    There are 6 areas of development and learning: Social-emotional | Physical | Cognitive | Language | Literacy | Mathematics

     

  • This assessment is given to all students in grades K–12 who qualify for English language development services.  It determines which students remain eligible to continue receiving English language development services.