Testing is used to obtain information about what students have learned. This information helps principals, guidance counselors, teachers, parents and students select materials and/or courses to meet students' instructional needs, interests, and abilities. Teachers use a Roanoke-based company, Interactive Achievement, for unit tests and benchmark testing. The results of these assessments let teachers, parents, and students know the skills and knowledge that need additional instruction.
All students in grades 3 - 8 take the Virginia Standards of Learning tests in reading and math. The additional SOL tests are listed below.
SOL test results are used to determine the progress of individuals, groups, schools, and the division. The results of SOL tests are used to determine state accreditation for each school in reading, math, science, and history. They are also used to meet the annual measurable objectives (AMOs) for reading and math as established by Virginia's implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act. This is commonly referred to making AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress). Each school and the division must meet all 33 of the AMOs to make AYP. | A Note about Mathematics Scores In 2011-12, Virginia transitioned to new, more rigorous, mathematics Standards of Learning tests. Because of the increased rigor of the assessments, there have been more students experiencing difficulty with the new mathematics tests. For additional information, please refer to this press release from the Virginia Department of Education: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/news/news_releases/2012/feb22.shtml. Stand Alone Items on Spring 2014 SOL Tests On the reading and writing Standards of Learning (SOL) tests, students may be presented with stand-alone items that contain one or more boxed excerpts. During the spring 2014 test administration, some stand-alone items may have an excerpt or excerpts that are lengthier than what has been previously presented on SOL tests. The lengths of the excerpts in stand-alone items will vary, and some excerpts may be several paragraphs. Students should read the boxed excerpt(s) and answer the item. Stand-alone items with the lengthier excerpts can appear on grades 3-8 reading, End-of-Course (EOC) reading, grade 5 writing, grade 8 writing, and EOC writing tests.
A document that shows samples of stand-alone items with lengthier excerpt(s) may be found on the Virginia Department of Education Web site at http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/sol/practice_items/index.shtml. |
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Students at the high school take End-of-Course SOL tests in English reading and writing, Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Earth Science, Biology, Chemistry, World History I, World History II, and Virginia and US History in order to earn verified credits toward graduation. Verified credits are awarded when students pass both the course and its corresponding SOL test or a substitute test approved by the Virginia Board of Education. Six verified credits are required for standard diplomas and nine verified credits are needed for advanced studies diplomas.