In the spring of each school year, students around the country are tested and then tested again.  How is the student progressing? How is the school doing? How are the teachers doing? Are various factors measuring up to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts standards? At Carroll the situation is no different.

1. Our publically funded students are required by law to take the MCAS (Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System) in March, April and May.
2. Group administered comprehension, vocabulary, and math testing (IOWA, GRADE, GMADE) occurs during the week of March 16th for students in the 3rd through 8th grades. These tests help our School to assess student application of the skills being taught, and they are essential in planning for the next year academically. These group administered standardized tests allow comparisons of a student’s achievements in reading and math to those of his/her peers nationwide.
3. Individually administered skill assessments will occur in May. These assessments offer a detailed perspective of how the student has acquired and applied the specific skills that Carroll teachers/tutors have focused upon all year.

All together, this is a lot of testing. Yet, Carroll uses these assessments to hold ourselves accountable, to determine a child’s levels and progress, for class grouping decisions, and to communicate to parents and educators outside of Carroll.