Testing

Testing

Please look here for information about testing programs and results from throughout the district.

The following K-12 tests are administered in the West Central Schools.

1. DIBELS-NEXT is an early reading test administered to students in grades K-5. The DIBELS measures assess the 5 Big Ideas in early literacy identified by the National Reading Panel:[| Phonemic Awareness,][|Alphabetic Principle,] [|Accuracy and Fluency], [|Vocabulary], [|Comprehension]. It is given three times a year to all students to monitor their progress and reading development. Students that are in need of extra assistance are monitored on a more frequent basis depending on the level of their need.

4. Dakota STEP Tests (required by the state of South Dakota) It is made up of questions from South Dakota teachers. It is administered to students in grades 3 through 8 and 11. All students are tested on Reading and Mathematics and a science test is given to students in grades 5, 8 and 11. It is administered in April and is used to measure progress under No Child Left Behind. We will no longer be giving the Dakota STEP test as the state transitions into a new assessment system.

5. Write To Learn is the writing assessment for students in South dakota. It is administered in grade 5, 7, and 10. It must be administered 2 times each year, usually in the fall and then again in the spring. It is administered on the computer.

6. NAEP (also called The Nations Report Card) it is a national assessment of Reading, Math, and Science. The test is given by a team from outside the school. West Central has NOT been chosen to take the NAEP test this year. It is usually given to grades 4,8 and 12.

7. ASVAB This is the Department of Defense’s Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. This is a test designed to rank and place incoming recruits for the military service. At West Central we use it as a career exploration tool, given to all juniors. It will be given Dec 15. \

8. PSAT/NMSQT The preliminary SAT is a good practice test for the ACT or SAT and for students planning to attend college. It measures Critical Reading, Mathematics and Writing Skills that are important in high school and beyond. In the past we have had nearly 50% of juniors take this test. This test also is used to qualify top students for the National Merit Scholarship Program. It will be given Oct 14.

9. South Dakota Career Assessment Program. The career testing program is contained in the career exploration website from the state, SDMyLife. The testing component has been divided into two parts. The first is an interest inventory, called Career Matchmaker, which 8th graders take in Career Exploratory. The second part is the Ability Profiler designed to be used with 10th graders.

10. PLAN is the preliminary ACT test given to Sophomores. It is designed to give students an idea of how they might score on the ACT and ways to improve their score. It is an optional test and will be administered in October.

11. ACT (American College Testing Program) is designed to measure academic achievement in English, Math, Reading and Science Reasoning. This test is optional but taken by 70-80% of our students as a Junior and Senior. This test is given at West Central and other locations in the area. This test is used for college and technical school admission and placement. This year all Juniors will be taking a full length practice ACT test Nov 5. The results will be loaded into the states new ACT prep program available to all students within SDMyLife.