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In addition to teacher-made tests given in the classrooms, St. Mary Magdalene Catholic School students are also given standardized norm-referenced tests.
- Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS) is given annually to Grades 2 through 7
- Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) is given annually to Grades 2, 4 and 6
- Assessment of Catechesis/Religious Education (ACRE) is given annually to Grade 5
These assessments are used to compare a student's progress to students across the nation or to detect specific weaknesses or strengths of a child or our academic programs. This means most of the students' scores describe how he/she did on the assessment compared with other students in the same grade from acros the nation who took the assessment at about the same time of the school year. Students do not pass or fail these tests. These assessments provide information essential to evaluating school programs, in particular the sequence subjects being taught, programs, units and activites used, and ways students are grouped to learn. In addition, teachers and administrators use these scores to evaluate each child's progress in school and address special needs.
The teachers collect more information on a daily basis from class work, homework, and teacher observations. Along with teacher-made tests, quizes, and projects, the ITBS and CogAT provide a broad picture on concept understanding and learning.