The testing and evaluation process is a key component in evaluating student learning and ensuring instructional techniques are constantly adapting to meet the needs of students. Each year, students in Grades 3, 6 and 9 write provincial achievement tests (PATs) – students in Grade 3 are tested in language arts and math, and students in Grades 6 and 9 write tests in language arts, math, science and social studies.
This year Alberta Education extended an invitation to all jurisdictions to become involved in the Grade 3 pilot of the Student Learning Assessments (SLA’s).
STAR Catholic School Division opted into the pilot. As a result of this pilot, our Grade 3 students did not write PATs this past year.
High school students are also evaluated in core Grade 12 courses, writing provincial diploma exams, counting towards 50% of their final course mark in each subject.
Released this week, PAT and diploma exam results continue to tell a success story for St. Thomas Aquinas Roman (STAR) Catholic Schools, officials say.
Grade 6 English language arts and science students exceeded the provincial standard of excellence and math and science students in the same grade exceeded the provincial acceptable standard.
In Grade 9, students exceeded the provincial acceptable standard in all four exams and exceeded the provincial standard of excellence in English, language arts and social studies.
High school students exceeded provincial standards of excellence in English 30-1 and 30-2, Mathematics 30-1 and Science 30 diploma exams while high school students exceeded the provincial acceptable standard in English 30-1 and 30-2, Mathematics 30-1 and 30-2, Science 30, Physics 30, Chemistry 30 and Social Studies 30-1.
“We’re excited by the results we’re seeing this year,” said Assistant Superintendent Kevin Booth. “The achievement of our students is a tribute to their dedication and commitment, but it also speaks to our teachers and their desire to help students achieve their personal best, as well as the support we receive from parents and guardians at home. This is a team effort and we’re proud to share that success.
“We will be analyzing our Grade 6 results in social studies and a few other areas, where we have noted room for potential gains, as part of our efforts to constantly improve student learning.”
- Vossen