High School Assessments

The Dysart Unified School District offers a variety of high school assessments that meet state requirements as well as help to prepare students for college and career.  Below are a list of the most common assessments high school students take broken down into state, national, and program-specific categories.  For more information on exact district testing dates, please visit our Testing and Assessment Calendar web page.   Benchmarks are administered to students in Math, English, and Science classes two times a year.  Normally, these occur in October and March. Juniors will be benchmarked in August and March.  The purpose of the assessment is to determine where students are in relation to mastery of standards and readiness for state testing.  Through these assessments teachers are able to see what standards the student has and has not mastered, better enabling teachers to individualize instruction. Finals are given in every high school course at the end of the semester and account for 10% of a student's grade.  Finals are comprehensive in nature and measure a student's mastery of what was taught throughout the course.    

Specific testing dates can be found on the High School Assessment Calendar.

The purpose of assessment  

Assessment is the systematic collection of data about student learning based on standards and the use of that data to create a continuous cycle of improved teaching and learning.  In order to inform instruction, measure student learning and close achievement gaps, Dysart endorses the use of diverse classroom assessment data, such as formative, summative, performance based, portfolio and student observations. Results are used in conjunction with district, state and national assessment data to form a  picture of student learning.  

• Dysart believes that assessments enable teachers to make instructional decisions for students  
• Dysart believes that assessments enable leaders to make program decisions for improvement.

State High School Assessments

College Optional Entrance Exams/National High School Assessments

PreACT

The PreACT offers 10th Graders an early experience with ACT test items, provides a predicted ACT test score, and offers information to help students get the start they need to be college ready.

• Year Round
• 10th
• College/Career Planning

The PSAT/NMSQT assessment is a standardized test administered to Sophomores and Juniors as a practice SAT test as well as a National Merit Scholarship qualifying test.

• Fall
• 10th-11th
• College/Career Planning

The SAT assessment is a college entrance exam used to assess Junior and Senior students' readiness for college and is currently aligned with high school curriculum to reflect what students have learned in high school. 

• Spring
• 9th-11th
• College/Career Planning

The ASVAB is the most widely used Interest/Career inventory in the United States. Although the test is administered by the military, it is not (and never has been) a requirement that a test-taker enlist in the armed forces.

• Year Round
• 10th-12th
• College/Career Planning

Program-Specific High School Assessments

AP Tests

Exam for students enrolled in AP courses. Acceptable scores on the exams may qualify for college credits, advanced placement, or exemption from certain courses. There is a fee for AP tests.

• Spring
• 9th-12th
• Optional

Cambridge Tests

The Cambridge test is administered after completing 9th and 10th grade Cambridge courses. By passing, students are eligible for the Grand Canyon Diploma, which allows them early entry into college courses and can be used for admission to ASU. 

• Spring 
• 9th-10th

IB Tests 

The International Baccalaureate (IB) assesses student work as direct evidence of achievement against the stated goals of the Diploma Programme courses.

• Spring
• WCHS IB Students

CTE Tests 

The CTE Test are designed for students in their final Carnegie Unit of state-identified programs. All assessments align to program technical standards. Those who pass receive an industry-endorsed congratulatory letter and certificate.

• Spring
• 10th-12th
• State Requirement