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Student Assessments

Student assessments provide accurate, timely, and high-quality information about student progress and ensure classroom instruction is aligned with district values and educational standards.

A balanced system of assessments is an integral part of CPS's well-rounded instructional program for all students. Assessments effectively measure what a student has learned and monitor student progress towards college and career readiness.

CPS administers different types of assessments over the course of the school year to provide a comprehensive picture of student progress. Some assessments guide improvements in ongoing instruction and enable schools to offer appropriate supports to address individual student needs. Standardized test scores, together with other factors, inform grade promotion decisions and determine student eligibility for specific schools and programs. Additionally, some assessments are mandated for school funding.

Preparing Students for Success on Assessments

Students may find testing stressful. Teachers should discuss upcoming assessments with their students to help them prepare academically and socio-emotionally for a successful test-taking experience.

Parents can find applicable test dates for their student in the Assessment Calendar. If you know your student will not be in attendance on test dates, contact your school.

These tips can help you prepare your child for testing:

  • Talk about the test date with your student a few days in advance and show him or her the date on a calendar
  • Each following day, talk a little more about testing, so your child becomes more familiar with the idea
  • Mention that some questions might be easy and some might be hard, and that it's okay if he or she doesn't know all the answers
  • Make sure your child gets a good night's rest and eats a good breakfast before the test
  • When your child comes home from school after a test, don't pressure him or her with questions—most children will talk about their experience without prompting when they feel ready

Alternative Testing

Contact your school to learn if your student qualifies for alternative testing.

CPS Assessment Calendar

Learn more about which assessments are optional, which are required, and testing dates by grade level for pre-K through grade 12. Brief overviews of the purpose of each assessment are also provided.

2023-2024 Assessment

Assessment Fact Sheets

The CPS assessment system helps provide educators and families with valuable information to help advance learning for all students, including:

  • Baseline – to understand where students start the year
  • Formative – to make ongoing adjustments to curriculum and instruction to better support students over the course of the year
  • Growth – to monitor and measure progress over the course of the year
  • Achievement - to understand student mastery of grade-level standards by the end of the year

For a better understanding of the purpose of specific tests, explore the Assessment Fact Sheets.

K-2 Assessments

Assessment Report
REACH Performance Tasks REACH Performance Tasks Fact Sheet
i-Ready i-Ready Assessment Suite Fact Sheet
ACCESS ACCESS Fact Sheet
Screening for English Language Proficiency EL Screener Fact Sheet
Kindergarten Individual Development Survey (KIDS) KIDS Fact Sheet

3-8 Assessments

Assessment Report
Illinois Science Assessment (ISA) ISA Fact Sheet
Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) IAR Fact Sheet
REACH Performance Tasks Reach Performance Tasks Fact Sheet
ACCESS ACCESS Fact Sheet
Screening for English Language Proficiency EL Screener Fact Sheet
Dynamic Learning Maps-Alternate Assessment (DLM-AA) DLM-AA Fact Sheet
Algebra Exit Exam
Star 360 Assessment Suite Star 360 Assessment Suite Fact Sheet
High School Admissions Test High School Admissions Test Fact Sheet

High School Assessments

Assessment Report
REACH Performance Tasks Reach Performance Tasks Fact Sheet
ACCESS ACCESS Fact Sheet
Screening for English Language Proficiency EL Screener Fact Sheet
Dynamic Learning Maps-Alternate Assessment (DLM-AA) DLM-AA Fact Sheet
SAT Suite of Assessments SAT Suite of Assessments Fact Sheet
Star 360 Assessment Suite Star 360 Assessment Suite Fact Sheet
Illinois Science Assessment (ISA) ISA Fact Sheet

 

Office of Student Assessment

773-553-2430

773-553-2421 (Fax)

42 W. Madison St.
Chicago, IL 60602