(no subject)

[the_rck]

Cordelia brought home her MEAP (state mandated standardized test) scores yesterday. She did quite well, better than last year. I wish I thought that translated to something more than being good at taking standardized tests. I mean, that skill is useful for a child in school. It just isn't something that's useful outside school.

They didn't do the other (federally mandated) standardized test this year because the company they contracted with to do it had major technical problems. The NWEA is supposed to be done online and is supposed to adapt itself to the test taker's level of proficiency. The kids seem to like it better than the MEAP. This year, though, the NWEA system was perpetually down. They didn't have time to find a different test to give, so they just skipped it.

Comments

[lady-of-mists.livejournal.com]

Congratulations to her! I agree that the test may not be the most meaningful, but it's still good to have something to point to when or if you are thinking about taking more advanced classes as proof that you should be in them. :)

[the_rck]

There is that. Not that there will be any opportunities for advanced classes any time soon. The middle school doesn't have any, and neither will Cordelia's current school if we keep her there. It's one curriculum for all the kids.

[lady-of-mists.livejournal.com]

I think I had the same system. The "advanced" classes didn't come til 7th grade for us, though we were told around 6th grade that our grades, etc. would determine if we got to take pre-algebra in the 7th grade or not. If you took pre-algebra early, that gave you the option of taking Calculus in your senior year of high school.

I think there were similarities with the sciences down here, but because of my move between 9th and 10th grade, I didn't get to take full advantage of that. (Biology was required in 9th grade where I moved to, but not offered to 9th graders at the school where I attended 9th grade, so I had to take it my 10th grade year instead).