Assessment

The Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA) score reports are available in Skyward Family Access for pre-2023 assessments. See instructions on how to obtain score reports.

Need help interpreting the scores?

• OSPI scoring range information
• OSPI Starting Smarter — Understanding the Score Report and Areas.
• OSPI state testing family resources

Contact your school's leadership for a Test Refusal Form.

Decisions about having a student repeat a grade would be made only after looking at other data, including classroom performance and other assessments, and would occur in consultation with families.

NTPS teachers have already been teaching the new, more rigorous standards in English language arts and math. They have done sample assessments in class. Encouraging your student to get a good night’s sleep, eat breakfast, and do their best is something families can do to support their child.

Please check with your school for specific testing times and dates. The general time frame will be March–May, depending on the grade level.

The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) were adopted by Washington State in July 2011. These standards provide a clear and consistent understanding of what students are expected to learn in English language arts and mathematics as they progress through grades K-12. Starting in 2014-15, the SBA are the state tests aligned to the Common Core. These assessments are used to measure how well students are mastering the standards and how ready they are for career and college education and training after graduation.

SBA is a high-quality system that helps evaluate how a student is doing year-round. The information from the SBA gives teachers specific information about how a student is doing in a particular area and allow for more targeted instruction. Significant improvements include:

• Writing at every grade
• New questions types
• Performance tasks that ask students to demonstrate an array of research, writing and problem-solving skills
• Computer adaptive technology for more accurate information about student achievement (on-line testing)
• Quicker results about student progress
• More accommodations and supports (American Sign Language, closed captioning, Text to Speech, etc.)

Basic education in Washington state is defined by the Legislature (RCW 28A.150.210). As required by state law, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) develops the state's learning standards (RCW 28A.655.070) and oversees the assessment of the learning standards for state and federal accountability purposes. Learning standards define what all students need to know and be able to do at each grade level.

See more information on OSPI's website

The WIDA test (World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment) is used to determine student eligibility for English Language Learners support services. Once identified, students will be assessed annually to determine growth in English language development. It includes four area: listening, reading, writing, and speaking.

See more information on the OSPI website

Smarter Balanced Assessments (SBAs) were created by the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium and are aligned to the Common Core State Standards in math and English language arts (ELA).

The SBAs are administered annually in the spring for all students in grades 3-8 and 10. Additional students in grades 11-12 may also participate in fall/spring if needed for graduation.  Grades K-2, and 9 do not participate. Score reports are available in Skyward Family Access.

See more information about the SBA on OSPI's website

A student growth percentile (SGP) describes a student's growth compared to other students with similar prior test scores (their academic peers). Although the calculations for SGPs are complex, percentiles are a familiar method of measuring students in comparison to their peers.

SGPs at a Glance
From OSPI's website, a short overview of SGPs.

Understanding an SGP Report
From OSPI's website, a guide for caregivers and teachers.

All students that have at least two years of consecutive state testing (SBA) scores are included.

Learn more about the Student Growth Percentiles on the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) website.

Students in grades 5, 8 and 11 will participate in the Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards.

See more information about the science assessment on the OSPI website.

Welcoming students to kindergarten at North Thurston Public Schools includes a Washington Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills (WaKIDS) assessment. It helps assess students' strengths and what will enable them to be successful in school. WaKIDS is done in all of our elementary schools.

See more information about the WaKIDS assessment on the OSPI website.