On April 16, the sophomore and junior students at Beverly began their California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) testing along with the rest of the state. The annual CAASPP exam is a standardized test that measures students’ skills in math and English. This testing is a way for the state to view Beverly’s academic performance and compare it to other public schools in the state.
Junior Luciana Unda said, “I think CAASPP is a good way to measure people’s abilities in classes and keep track of what they’re learning.”
The students at Beverly who perform well on the CAASPP exam in their junior year will be acknowledged at graduation. Students who score at least a Level 3 (Standard Met) or a Level 4 (Standard Exceeded) will get an honors cord during graduation.
Students who earn a Level 4 on both sections will also receive an Academic Excellence pin and early access to purchasing parking passes for next school year. Additionally, students who score high on their CAASPP tests or improve at least one level from their 8th-grade scores will receive off-campus lunch privileges.
Senior Mica Berg said, “I was definitely trying to pay attention during it because of the privileges we would receive. I actually would try again if I didn’t know an answer.”
Although the test does not affect students’ grades, many believe that it is still important to perform well on it because it can influence the school’s ranking.
Sophomore Sofie Lishman said, “I think it is important to try on CAASPP, even though it’s not a grade. It’s still important to try and do your best on it.”
These ranking results can also affect college decisions. When a university is comparing two academically similar students, admissions advisors may look at which school has a better ranking and take this into account when choosing an applicant. The better Beverly performs on the CAASPP, the better the school looks to colleges, so our scores do matter.
In the Beverly Buzz, Principal Loan Sriruksa wrote, “These assessments play a key role in measuring the academic progress our students have made this year and contribute to our school’s overall performance rating by the State of California. These results also impact how our school is viewed by the wider community, including selective colleges and universities.”
Before spring break started, teachers gave students a practice Interim Assessment Block (IAB) to give them a chance to see what the test would be like and to help them prepare for the CAASPP. This allowed teachers to further explain tricky worded questions to students.
Based on CAASPP testing, students are able to further gauge their performances on subjects like math and English. After testing ends, Beverly will celebrate with a carnival for all students on May 1.
