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Grading and Assessment Policies

Assessment/Testing

Students will be assessed in a variety of ways, both formally and informally throughout the school year. The words most often used with assessments at HHISCA are Formative assessments (to inform the teacher; such as quizzes and tests) and Summative assessments (for students to show their knowledge; final unit tests, projects, reports).

In addition, students will be involved with the following assessments:

  • CogAT (Cognitive Abilities Test): consensus testing given to all 2nd graders in South Carolina to assess cognitive ability. This year, 4th graders will also participate in this assessment if they have not already been identified as GT.  This is one of the assessments used for GT identification.

  • MAP (Measure of Academic Progress): a computerized adaptive assessment given three times a year to monitor how each student is growing in their mastery of grade level standards.  This assessment is used for teachers to help drive instructional practices.

  • TDA (Text Dependent Analysis) is a writing assessment  given to grades 3-5 three times a year and grade 2 two times a year. This assessment measures each student's ability to read and respond in writing, using evidence from the text to support their answer. Students will receive a score of 1-4. 

  • SCREADY (South Carolina College-and-Career Ready Assessments): an online assessment given to students in grades 3-5 in the area of English Language Arts and Math. Students will receive a score of Exceeds, Meets, Approaches, Does Not Meet.

  • SCPASS (South Carolina Palmetto Assessment of State Standards): an online assessment given to students in grades 3-5 in Science. Students will receive a score of Exemplary, Met or Not Met.

  • ACCESS (English Language Learners): an assessment given to students who are currently identified as Limited English Proficient (LEP) once a year (spring semester) to note progress with English language proficiency in the areas of reading, writing, speaking and listening.

  • Fountas & Pinnell: reading assessment which is given one on one to students at least 3 times a year to note their progress as readers. A grade level equivalency is given. On the report card this is noted as being reading above, on, or below grade level.

For more information concerning the interpretation of test scores/assessments, please review the following links:

https://www.ed.sc.gov/data/test-scores/

https://www.ed.sc.gov/data/report-cards/

Should you have specific questions surrounding state, local or building level assessments, please contact Lynn Singleton (Assistant Principal/Test Coordinator).