Standardized Testing

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Students attending Catholic elementary schools in the Province of Florida participate in the Iowa Testing Programs. The Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) has traditionally been administered to students in 3rd through 8th grades in the fall of each academic school year. However, beginning in the 2011-2012 school year, third through eighth graders will be tested in the spring. Students in 2nd grade take the ITBS in the spring of each academic school year. These are standardized achievement tests. The primary purpose of the Iowa Test of Basic Skills is to provide the school with information that is used to improve instruction and to assist teachers in making sound educational decisions about each student’s learning.

ITBS achievement tests are administered to all students in 2nd through 8th grades in the core subjects of language arts, reading, and mathematics. In addition, science, social studies, and sources of information tests are administered to students in 4th, 6th, and 8th grades.

The CogAT (Cognitive Abilities Test) is administered to students in 3rd, 5th, and 7th grades. This is an integrated series of tests that provides information on the level of development of general and specific cognitive skills. These abilities have substantive correlatives with learning and problem solving both in and out of school. The primary purpose of CogAT is to provide a description of the students’ own cognitive resources for learning that teachers can use to assist the student in achieving instructional objectives.