Math and reading assessments for sophomores and science and social studies assessments for juniors will be coming up at the end of March and all through April.

“I’m pretty excited, I like taking tests,” sophomore Sally Lushbough said.

Some students are excited to take a test that they feel will tell them how far they have progressed throughout their high school year.

“I understand that the state wants us to take to test how far we’ve progressed, but I think they are pointless and don’t prove anything,” junior Kelsi Martin said.

Other students feel that assessments are a waste of time because it doesn’t test how much we actually know and only covers certain subjects.

“They only stress students and teachers out,” Martin said.

Students also think that it’s very stressful because some teachers have considered taking grades on it, and teachers might have to move around their schedules to fit assessments in and make sure we’re prepared for it.

“They are important because it’s mandated by the state and tells how much progress the school has made,” assistant principal Tom Albers said.

According to Albers, it’s just a tool that measures everyone as fairly as it can to see how much progress we have made as a school.

“Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, this is just the state’s way of evening the field,” Albers said.

16jschaffer@usd489.com