After returning from spring break, all juniors at Aliso Niguel High School had to participate in CAASPP testing. The California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress, or CAASPP, is a mandated assessment by the state of California.
Throughout the first week after spring break, from April 8, 2024, to April 12, 2024, all students in grade 11 were tested in their english, math and history classes.
In their english and math classes, the students took the Smarter Balanced Assessments for English Language Arts Literacy and math. The standards tested for these two assessments are based on the California Common Core State Standards.
Students also took their California Science Test in their history classes. The standards tested are the California Next Generation Science Standards. Both the Smarter Balanced assessments and the California Science Test are computer-based. Students took all the tests on their chromebooks on the secure test browser.
Mr. Hatcher, the Principal of Aliso Niguel High School, said, “The state mandates that high school students take the english and math assessments in their junior year. It is up to the school to decide when the students will take the science test, and the school decided that the students would also take the science test in their junior year for best results.”
On the Monday of testing week, students took small portions of the practice CAASPP test in preparation for the real test.
Depending on each individual student’s schedule of classes, students may have taken some of the tests on the same day. For some students, they might have had all of the tests in one day.
The bell schedule for the entire school was also adjusted temporarily for the week to accommodate the CAASPP testing schedule. Instead of Wolverine+ for study hall, each class had been extended by 15 minutes. There was one 20 minute break period in the morning from 10:25 a.m. to 10:45 a.m and a lunch break from 12;40 p.m. to 1:10 p.m.
Although the CAASPP test did not affect a student’s course grade, students were encouraged to put their best effort into these state mandated assessments. Every school in California is ranked based on the results of the assessments, each individual student’s score is counted towards their school.
The California Dashboard grades every school in California on a variety of criteria. All the schools are also ranked in the state. High schools are graded on six different categories, and two of them are directly related to the students’ CAASPP testing results.
Mr. Mocnik, one of the assistant principals, said, “The assessments give information about a student’s progress during their high school years, show if they are making adequate progress and show their proficiency in what they are learning in school.”
The CAASPP scores are also sometimes utilized as an indicator of a student’s readiness for college-level courses.
Students were required to take the CAASPP assessment unless a parent or guardian submitted a request to the school to excuse their child from the CAASPP assessments.
The juniors were rewarded for their participation and dedication to these tests with raffle entries, sweet treats and free Kona Ice. The school and staff are very proud of the students for doing their best during this long testing period.
