Academics ---> Testing

Desert Academy Student Testing & Assessment 2009-2010

Testing Coordinators:
Tamara Rossi, Registrar
992-8284 ext. 17, Email
Stephanie Binkley, Learning Specialist – for students with accommodations
992-8284 ext. 27, Email

Name of Assessment/Test	Acronym	Who Takes it	Content Covered	Time of Year	Fee/Registration	Registration deadline	Where
Scholastic Assessment Test I (with essay writing) and II (subject tests required by some colleges)	SAT I and SAT II	Seniors in the Fall, Juniors in the Spring	College preparedness testing in all subjects	Oct 10, Nov 7, Dec 5 Jan 23, Mar13, May 1, June 5	Starts at $45 Register on line at collegeboard.com or pick up paper application from Tamara Rossi	Sept 9, Oct 1, Oct 30 Dec 15, Feb 4, Mar 25, April 29	Various Santa Fe schools
Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test	PSAT	All Juniors, highly recommended for Sophomores	SAT preparedness in Math, Critical Reading and Writing	Oct 17	$13 payable to Desert Academy. Pre-register with Tamara Rossi	Oct 5	Desert Academy, Saturday, 9:30-12:30
American College Testing (with essay writing)	ACT	Seniors in the Fall, Juniors in the Spring	College preparedness testing in all subjects	Sep 12, Oct 24, Dec 12 Feb 6, Apr 10, June12	Starts at $47 Register on line at act.org or pick up paper application from Tamara Rossi	Aug 7 Sept 18, Nov 6 Jan 5, Mar 5, May 7	Various Santa Fe schools
Iowa Test of Basic Skills	ITBS	New students grades 7-10 in Oct, ALL students 7-10 in Apr	Baseline test to measure areas of strengths/weaknesses in reading, grammar, usage, math	Sep 22-23 April 27-28	No fee or registration, given during the school day	none	Desert Academy
Education Records Bureau/W	ERB/WRap	All students grades 7-12	Measures writing achievement	Oct 27-28	No fee or registration, given during the school day	none	Desert Academy
PLAN ahead for the ACT	PLAN	All 10th graders	ACT preparedness in English, Math, Reading, Science	Dec 3	$10 payable to Desert Academy, duringschool day	Dec 3	Desert Academy
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme Exams	IB DP	Full Diploma Candidates and certificate students	Comprehensive Assessment by subject	May 1-21(most exams at end of 12th Grade)	Fees apply, billed with tuition when entering DP Programme (see Desert’s IB Guide for details)	November 15 of the exam year	Desert Academy

Other academic testing/assessment information:
The first and third Quarters end October 16 and March 5. Students are given a grade and narrative report at this time. The quarter grades serve as a progress report for the semester grades.

The first and second Semesters end December 18 and May 26. Grades only are given at the semesters. The semester grades are recorded on students’ official report cards and transcripts.

Parent/teacher conferences are held twice a year in the fall and spring; November 6 and April 1.