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Assessment

Student Assessment

Understanding Assessments 

The Assessment Department works collaboratively with teaching staff to support student learning. Assessment results support data-driven understanding and differentiated instruction to all our students by informing teaching staff of your child's current understanding of the Washington state learning standards.

 

When Assessments Happen

Throughout the school year, your child may participate in one or more state or federally required assessments. Here's a simple overview of what to expect and when:

WIDA Screener — Administered within the first 10 days of a new student's enrollment, the WIDA Screener helps identify students who are learning English so we can connect them with the right support from the start.

WaKIDS — Rather than a traditional test, WaKIDS is best described as an inventory of skills for students entering Kindergarten and Transition to Kindergarten programs. Conducted in small, informal increments with family involvement, WaKIDS takes place between August 27 and November 14.

WIDA ACCESS — Students identified as English Language Learners will take the WIDA ACCESS assessment to determine their current English language level and eligibility for English language services. Testing is scheduled between January 26 and March 20, with each school setting its own schedule within that window.

Spring State Assessments — Each spring, OSPI administers state and federally required assessments for students in the following grades:

  • English Language Arts & Math: Grades 3–8 and Grade 10
  • Science: Grades 5, 8, and 11

Spring testing runs April through June. Each school schedules its own testing window within that timeframe and will communicate directly with families about specific dates.

Assesment Contact
A smiling woman with gray hair and glasses poses for a portrait.

Karen Allen 
Assesment Cordinator 
(509) 663-8161 x33327
allen.k@wenatcheschools.org

Assessment Overview and Systems

Tier 1 Assessment Continuum

OSPI Learning Standards

National Common Core

Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium

Partnering with Families; Supporting Teachers Assessment data helps support student-centered learning environments, innovation and creativity, encourages flexibility within the teaching and learning structure, and nurtures collaborative relationships that inspire learning every day.

Local Test Events

Planning is important. Keep up-to-date by staying in close contact with your Counseling office. 

Recently, many schools have returned to requiring or using standardized test scores as part of the registration application process. Schools that have reinstated the SAT/ACT requirements or strongly recommending to test include Stanford, U of Tennessee, U of Texas at Austin, Purdue, Brown, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Yale, Georgetown, MIT, Caltech, US Air Force Academy, US Military Academy, US Naval Academy, and some entire state public university systems. Here's an AI-generated list.

When registering for AP, SAT, or ACT tests, students should use their 7-digit WSD student number, which starts with a zero, as a secondary identification number in order to enable import of their test results to their Skyward student account or digital HSBP.

  • ACT test options include section retesting, superscoring, and results in two-days when testing online.

  • Please contact the Counseling office to learn more about local ASVAB testing opportunites.

    • Wenatchee High School - Counseling Office Phone 509-663-8117

    • WestSide High School - Counseling Office Phone 509-663-7947

  • The College Board SAT webpage is frequently updated. Get current information here.

  • OSPI directs school districts to administer the following assessments. More information is available on the OSPI State Testing web page.

    • Smarter Balanced Assessments (SBA): English language arts (ELA) and math tests for students in grades 3–8 and 10 for federal and state accountability. The high school ELA and math assessments can be used to meet a student's graduation pathway requirement; the score is used to update the High School and Beyond Plan.
    • Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS): Science test for grades 5, 8, and 11 required for federal and state accountability.
    • Washington - Access to Instruction and Measurement (WA-AIM): ELA, math, and science alternate assessments for students in grades 3–11 with significant cognitive disabilities documented in their Individualized Education Program (IEP) for federal and state accountability. The high school ELA and math assessments can be used to meet a student's graduation pathway requirement. To support the student, this assessment is given instead of SBA and WCAS.
    • Washington Kindergarten Inventory of Skills (WaKIDS): This program helps bring families, teachers, and early learning providers together to support each Kindergarten and Transitional Kindergarten student's learning and transition into public schools.
    • WIDA Screener: Used to determine initial eligibility for English language development (ELD) services for English learners in grades K–12.
    • Annual WIDA ACCESS Assessments: For all students in grades K–12 who qualify for English language development (ELD) services to determine which students remain eligible to continue receiving ELD services.
    • WIDA Alternate ACCESS: For students in grades K–12 with significant cognitive disabilities who qualify for English language development (ELD) services to determine which students remain eligible to continue receiving ELD services.
    • National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP): NAEP is a national test  that measures what students across the country know and can do in 10 subject areas, including mathematics, reading, writing, and science. Federal law requires every state to give the NAEP in reading and math at grades 4 and 8 every two years. 
    • OSPI-Developed Assessments (formerly CBAs) and OSPI-Developed Performance Assessments (formerly CBPAs): The state develops classroom-based assessments for the Arts, Educational Technology, Health and Physical Education, and Social Studies based on the state's learning standards to help guide day-to-day instruction. State curriculum specialists create tasks and questions that model good assessments and provide them to local school districts.

State Assessments 

OSPI guides districts to meet state and federal requirements for annual state assessments. The intent of state testing is to determine a student’s skills and knowledge based our state learning standards in reading, writing, math, and science. Statewide testing helps ensure all public-school students, no matter where they go to school, receive a quality education. 

Each spring, Washington students are tested within the last twelve weeks of the school year. Our schools nest their unique testing schedule within these weeks with most schools testing in April-May. Here's the OSPI State Assessment Calendar; please contact your school to learn their specific testing dates.

State assessments measure English Language Arts (reading and writing) and Mathematics in grades 3-8 and 10, and Science in grades 5, 8 and 11. Washington state school districts are required to test all enrolled students in these specific grade levels and subject areas. 

The Washington state assessments are Smarter Balanced Assessments for English Language Arts and Mathematics, and Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science. However, students who have severe cognitive disabilities are tested in the same grade levels and subjects with the Washington Access to Instruction & Measurement (WA-AIM).

Our district uses multiple points of data to support student learning. Paired with data from our classroom assessments, the resulting state assessment score data provides an additional layer of information as to how we may help our students move forward with their educational goals. Starting Smarter offers parents and students the opportunity to learn how to use state test score reports to better understand your child's strengths.

Students may review sample questions seen on our state tests. The Understanding the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessment video provides a good overview of the assessment (English, Spanish).

  • The Washington Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills (WaKIDS) is a process that helps students ensure a successful start to school. WaKIDS provides a statewide snapshot of where children are in their development at the start of their Kindergarten and Transitional Kindergarten (TK) school years. This inventory-of-skills assessment helps inform our teachers as to your child's unique skill set at the beginning of the school year and assists state-level decisions about education policy. Students enrolled in Kindergarten will be assessed once, while students enrolled in the Transition to Kindergarten Program will be assessed again later in the school year.

    For more information, please check our Parent Support page for WaKIDS webpages.

  • Each spring, students test their understanding of English language arts and mathematics with the Smarter Balanced Assessment.  In grades 5 and 8, students also take the state science exam, Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science. Students with severe cognitive disabilty may instead take the alternate test, Washington Access to Instruction & Measurement (WA-AIM). 

  • State assessment is one of the Graduation Pathways used to meet graduation requirements. Washington's universities, colleges and community colleges use the student's course history in conjuction with Smarter Balanced Assessment scores for course-level placement. Students who wish to retry for a higher score may test again each year.

    • Students in grade 10 take the Smarter Balanced Assessment for English language arts and math.
    • Students in grade 11 take the Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science.
    • Students with severe cognitive disabilty may instead take the alternate test, Washington Access to Instruction & Measurement (WA-AIM). 

    To graduate from high school in Washington, students must earn credits, demonstrate readiness to graduate through one of the pathways, and complete a High School and Beyond Plan. The most convenient way for your child to meet their high school graduation pathway requirement is to score a Level 3 or 4 (or score 2548 /ELA or 2595 /math) on both math and English language arts Smarter Balanced Assessments by the end of their 10th grade year. The results from the 10th grade ELA and math tests are used to inform course-taking for the next two years of high school and is used to fully complete a High School and Beyond Plan. When a 10th grade student demonstrates they have met standard on the test, they have greater course-taking flexibility. When 10th grade students do not meet standard or do not test, the High School and Beyond Plan is updated to further support the student in grades 11 and 12. Meeting standard on the high school test is just one of the graduation pathways. 

    Want more? READYWA provides information about state learning standards and how state assessments measure students' understanding of those standards. Plan your Path!

    Former High School Students seeking a Diploma: Please contact the Counseling Offices of Wenatchee HS or WestSide HS to schedule time to review your transcript. Let us give you a hand. Reach out to our Counseling Staff: Wenatchee High School; WestSide High School.

    Running Start Students: Plan to take the state assessment - Reserve your Spot! Please reach out to your school with your contact information.

  • The Washington Access to Instruction & Measurement (WA-AIM) is an alternate state assessment for students with significant cognitive challenges. The WA-AIM assessment measures student knowledge and skills through the use of performance tasks. Schools nest their testing dates within the state's WA-AIM testing windows, which are offered below.

    WA-AIM Spring: January 27 - May 2, 2025.  This test event measures student's understanding of English Language Arts and Mathematics in grades 3-8 and 10, and Science in grades 5, 8 and 11, which mirrors SBA and WCAS.

  • WIDA assessments are used to determine English language levels and student eligibility for English Language Development services. Students with home languages other than English take the WIDA Screener to help determine if specific services will be provided to the student. Students who are served for English Language Development take the annual WIDA test in late winter. Of these students, students with significant cognitive disability will access the WIDA Alternate Access test to better support their unique needs. Local testing dates for both WIDA and WIDA Alternate Assess assessments are nested within dates mandated by OSPI, January 27 - March 21, 2025. Our schools will schedule testing dates to best support their students. Learn about WIDA ACCESS score reports here and WIDA Alternate ACCESS score reports here.

  • Access the OSPI Assessment Resources for Families webpage

    Try it out! SBA and WCAS, and WIDA offer a hands-on opportunity to learn about the state assesmsents with their practice and training tests. 

  • Home school parents are responsible for their students annually taking a standardized test or an annual assessment of student progress to help ensure the student is making adequate progress (RCW 28A.200.010 and WAC 180-52-070).  The Washington State Board of Education (SBE) provides a list of examples of approved standardized achievement tests that home school parents may use and it includes current assessments such as the Smarter Balanced Assessment for ELA and math. Learn more at OSPI's webpage, Home-Based Instruction.

    State assessments measure Washington state K-12 Learning Standards for English Language Arts (reading and writing) and Mathematics in grades 3-8 and 10, and Science in grades 5, 8 and 11. 

    Families who wish to learn more or to potentially participate in spring state assessments may start the process with this  online form. This form is not an enrollment form nor does it promise the opportunity for testing; it simply offers parents an opportunity to further explore this avenue to see if it meets your needs and helps our District Assessment Coordinator, Karen Allen, support you