Assessment - Columbia Heights Educational Campus

Assessment

Assessment provides students, parents and teachers with important information on where a student is progressing, and where he or she needs to focus more.  At CHEC we use different kinds of assessments, formal and informal, to help guide students  learning.  We expect students to become familiar with the different assessments, and to keep an updated Assessment Passport in order to track their progress and improve upon it.

Rubrics
Rubrics designed by teachers provide a clear, objective understanding of what is required to meet any given standard. Rubrics are  descriptions of what is required to meet the standard when completing an assignment.   Students must use rubrics to help them improve their work.   At CHEC we have a culture of revision, so that all students get used to reviewing and revising their work.  Work not meeting or exceeding the standards is returned to the student with commentary so that the student can revise the work to meet the  standards.  

Student Portfolios
Another way in which the Columbia Heights Educational Campus measures student progress is through the use of portfolios in each class.  A portfolio is a collection of students' work which demonstrates that they have met the Standards in that  class. This collection includes the students' comments and analysis of why they feel this work demonstrates that they know the subject matter.   
The benefits of using portfolios for students include the opportunity for revision- whereby the students correct their work and deepen their understanding  of the content.  Students also benefit from the experience they gain in organizing and presenting their work and the pride they take in reviewing their own growth and accomplishments from each course.

All CHEC students are required to complete and present their portfolios at the end of the semester/year in all grades and all subject areas.  This is a promotion requirement in grades 6 through 11, and a graduation requirement in grade 12.  Each advisory  the student is required to complete authentic portfolio products and to demonstrate how the projects obtain the rating of meets or exceeds standards through an oral presentation of his or her portfolio before a panel of parents, teachers, community advocates  or students.  The student earns 40% of their grade through successful completion and defense of their portfolio.  The portfolio is a requirement for all CHEC students including those who transfer in after the beginning of the year.

Standardized Testing
All students (grades 6-10) in the District of Columbia Public Schools must take a standardized test every spring. This test measures basic skills in  reading and math.  While it is not the only way to tell how well a student is doing in school, it is an important measure of progress.  The DCCAS (DC Comprehensive Achievement System) has four levels of achievement: Below Basic, Basic, Proficient, and  Advanced.   The "No Child Left Behind" law requires that all schools meet proficiency targets every year.  

All CHEC classes teach the skills necessary to do well on the standardized test.  The school requires attendance at after  school and Saturday tutoring for those who have not yet reached the Proficient level.  It is each student’s responsibility to take this test seriously, and to take advantage of the extra help available so they can improve their scores  every year.  

Assessment of English Language Learners
In order to assess how well English Language Learners are progressing, all students with a language other than English in the home, who have not yet achieved English language proficiency, must take the ACCESS for ELLs test every spring.  This  test is used to determine if students are ready to exit the ESL program.

Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT)
This is a standardized test that provides feedback on how ready a student is for college level work.  It prepares students to take the SAT.  The PSAT is taken in October,  and all 9 th, 10 th, and 11 th  graders must take the test.  Selected 8 th grade students also take the test.   Students who score high on the PSAT are eligible for the National Merit Scholarship Program.

Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)
The SAT is required by most colleges and universities, and is used as criteria to determine both admission and merit scholarships.  Students must take the SAT in the spring  of their Junior Year, and the fall of their Senior Year.  It is important for students to prepare for the SAT both in school, as well as outside of school.  Students should purchase their own SAT preparation book, in order to improve their scores by studying  and preparing outside of school hours.

Advanced Placement (AP)
The Advanced Placement (AP) program is a  sponsored by the Board which offers standardized  courses to high school students that are generally recognized to be equivalent to undergraduate courses in college. Participating colleges grant credit to students who obtained high enough scores on the exams to qualify.