Testing and Accountability
Testing and Student Information
Testing Calendar & Information
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction designs and manages statewide assessments that are administered to students enrolled in public and charter schools in grades 3–12. These assessments serve several purposes for the schools, the state, and federal guidelines.
The State Accountability Model
-
Formerly known as the ABC's and the READY MODEL, the accountability program sets growth and performance standards for each elementary, middle, and high school in the state.
-
- District, County, and State data are used to inform instructional decisions.
- Data and assessment analysis are utilized to better understand student progress.
- Assesses standards to ensure that what the student is learning will serve him or her well in the future, regardless of the path he or she follows.
-
- The percentage of students who scored at achievement levels 1-5. Level 3 is considered proficient, while levels 4 and 5 are considered college and career ready.
- Student growth calculations. The rate at which students learned over the past year. Schools can meet growth goals, not meet growth goals, or exceed growth goals.
- Performance on the other high school indicators: ACT, ACT WorkKeys, 4-year Cohort Graduation Rate, and Math Rigor.
-
In October 2013, the North Carolina State Board of Education adopted new college and career readiness Academic Achievement Standards and Academic Achievement Descriptors for the End-of-Grade and End-of-Course tests and alternate assessments. These standards and descriptors (that are explained at the links below) allow you to compare your child's performance to grade/course level expectations.
- Mathematics Achievement Level Descriptors Grades 3-8
- Science Achievement Level Descriptors Grades 5 & 8
- NC Math I and NC Math 3 Achievement Level Descriptors
- Biology Achievement Level Descriptors
EOG results for Grades 3–8 Reading and the EOC test results for English II will be available upon the North Carolina State Board of Education's adoption of academic achievement standards and cut scores for reading.