District Assessments
Test Description | Subject | Students | |
Smarter Balanced (SBAC) | The goal of the SDDOE is that all high school students graduate college, career, and life ready. To this aim, the SD assessment system is designed to provide districts, schools, and parents with the information they need to ensure that their students remain on track to reach this goal. SD public school students participate in annual summative testing in ELA and Math and the results of these tests are in the state accountability system. In addition to annual tests in ELA and Math, SD requires assessment of science and writing annually and provides school and teachers with the resources to utilize other assessments to help identify strengths and areas for improvement. Students will take this in the Spring of each school year. Each assessment can take up to 1.5 hours or more depending on the student. Staff disseminate test results at the end of the school year before school is out. For more information go to http://doe.sd.gov/Assessment/ | English Language Arts & Math | 3-8, 11 |
South Dakota Science | The South Dakota Science tests measures students’ mastery of the South Dakota State Academic Standards in Science adopted in May, 2015 at grades 5, 8, and 11. This test will cover the grade spans of 3-5, 6-8, and high school. Questions will come equally as possible from life, physical, and earth sciences at all 3 tested levels. This assessment will be completely online. Students will take this in the Spring of each school year. Each assessment can take up to 1.5 hours or more depending on the student. Staff disseminate test results at the end of the school year before school is out. | Science | 5, 8, 11 |
South Dakota Science Alt | Students will take this in the Spring of each school year. Each assessment can take up to 1.5 hours or more depending on the student. Staff disseminate test results at the end of the school year before school is out. | Science | 5, 8, 11 |
National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) | The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), often called "the Nation's Report Card," is the only nationally representative and continuing assessment of what America's students know and can do in various subjects. Its two major goals are to measure student achievement and to report change in student performance over time. For more information go to http://doe.sd.gov/Assessment/ | Reading Math Next test date: March 2024 | 4, 8, 12 |
WIDA EL Assessments | South Dakota is a part WIDA (World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment), a consortium of states dedicated to the design and implementation of high standards and equitable educational opportunities for English language learners. WIDA provides South Dakota with language proficiency assessments for grades K-12. Students will take this in the Spring of each school year. Each assessment can take up to 1.5 hours or more depending on the student. Staff disseminate test results at the end of the school year before school is out. April/May For more information go to http://doe.sd.gov/Assessment/ | Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening | K-12 |
NWEA | NWEA® is a research-based, not-for-profit organization that supports students and educators worldwide by creating assessment solutions that precisely measure growth and proficiency—and provide insights to help tailor instruction. For 40 years, NWEA has developed Pre-K–12 assessments and professional learning offerings to help advance all students along their optimal learning paths. Our tools are trusted by educators in 145 countries and more than half the schools in the US. For more information go to https://www.nwea.org/about/ Students take this assessment three times a year. Benchmarks are Fall(Sept.-Oct), Winter (Nov.-Dec.), Spring (April-May). Each assessment can take 45-60 minutes depending on the student. Staff disseminate test results at the end of each benchmarking assessment. | Reading and Math | K-11 |
ACT | The ACT is one of two commonly used college entrance exams. It includes four subject-area tests in English, math, reading and science. The ACT is scored on a scale of 1 to 36. | English, Math, Reading, Science, Writing (Optional) | 11,12 |
National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) | The NCRC is an industry-recognized, portable credential certifying essential skills needed for workplace success. To earn certification, students must attain at least the lowest certification level on three ACT® WorkKeys assessments: Applied Mathematics, Reading for Information, and Locating Information. This vital initiative is part of the Department of Education’s goal to ensure that, “All students graduate college, career, and life ready.” For further information on NCRC, including how to schedule a testing session, please visit the DLR website at http://dlr.sd.gov/workforce_training/ncrc.aspx. The assessment can take up to 3-4 hours. Staff disseminate test results at the end of the school year before school is out. April/May | Applied Mathematics, Locating Information, Reading for Information | 12 |