Testing and Assessments

The Data & Information Systems Department is responsible for state reporting in terms of student achievement, student attendance monitoring, tracking and evaluation of student data, as well as management of the student database. This department also handles all testing guidelines, implementation, shipping, coordination and distribution of state and federal tests.

Applicable Federal/State Law

These tests are administered in accordance with Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015 and T.C.A §49-1-602 pertaining to district and school accountability. Modified assessments in Braille and large print are also provided in accordance with Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) of 1990.

Home Schooled students who are in 5th grade, 7th grade, and 9th grade and have registered with the Student Services Department at Hamilton County Department of Education are required to take TCAP tests. Please review the Hamilton County’s TCAP Testing Schedule links below to see which tests are applicable. Letters will be sent with additional information.

External Testing Information

State Testing Information Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study PISA Assessment International Computer and Information Literacy Study NAEP Assessment

Hamilton County's TCAP Testing Schedule

Applicable Federal/State Law*

These tests are administered in accordance with the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015 and T.C.A. §49-1-602 pertaining to district and school accountability. Modified assessments in Braille and Large Print are also provided in accordance with the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) of 1990.

ACH Grades 3-8 and EOC – is required by all students in Grades 3-12 per Federal/State Law*

This includes English language arts, math, science for grades 3-8, social studies for grades 6-8, and High School Algebra I & II, Geometry, English I & II, Biology, and US History.

Purpose & Use

These tests are given to measure how much a student grows academically over the duration of the course. The new format in English language arts and math will measure student understanding of our current state standards, not just basic memorization and test-taking skills.

Administration Dates

EOC (computer-based)

Fall – December 2 to December 19, 2024
Spring – April 14 to May 6, 2025

ACH Grades 3-8

Grades 3-5 – April 14 to May 2, 2025 (paper-based)
Grades 6-8 – April 14 to May 6, 2025 (computer-based)

Results to Parents & Students

A quick score is provided to the district for use in final grades. Individual student reports are received in mid- to late-July and sent home with the students in August/September.

TCAP-Alt ELA & Math – are required for select students with disabilities (who qualify for the alternate assessment) in grades 3-8 and grade 11 per Federal/State Law*

This includes English language arts and math for grades 3-8 and grade 11.

Purpose & Use

This assessment is administered to students with the most severe cognitive disabilities to measure academic achievement against modified, more accessible academic standards.

Administration Dates

Fall – September 9 to December 6, 2024 (computer-based)
Spring – February 3 to April 25, 2025 (computer-based)

Results to Parents & Students

Scores are received in mid- to late-July and Individual Student Reports are sent home in August/September. Results may be discussed during the student’s IEP meeting.

TCAP-Alt Science & Social Studies – are required for select students with disabilities (who qualify for the alternate assessment) in grades 3-8 and grade 10 per Federal/State Law*

This includes science for grades 3-8, social studies for grades 6-8, and Biology for grade 10.

Purpose & Use

This assessment is administered to students with the most severe cognitive disabilities to measure academic achievement against modified, more accessible academic standards.

Administration Dates

TCAP-Alt – March 10 to April 25, 2025 (paper-based)

Results to Parents & Students

Scores are received in mid- to late-July and Individual Student Reports are sent home in August/September. Results may be discussed during the student’s IEP meeting.

ELPA21 – is required for all English Language Learner students in grades K-12

ELPA21 consists of four tests to evaluate English Proficiency. Title III of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 requires states to administer an assessment designed to measure students’ progress in “…attaining proficiency, including a child’s level of comprehension, speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills in English”.

Administration Dates

February 3 to March 14, 2025 (updated 12/11/2024)

Results to Parents & Students

Individual performance reports are received in June and sent home in August/September

Hamilton County Schools Assessments

HCDE Benchmark Assessments – Grades 1-12

Purpose & Use

These tests are given to assist the teachers with planning strategies to prepare the students for the TCAP assessments in April and May. The final assessments will test some skills the students have not been taught as this too is in preparation for the TCAP assessments.

Administration Dates

Grades 3-8 & High Schools

T1 – October 2-11, 2024 (grades 3-5 ends Oct. 10) updated 7/15/2024
T2 – December 10-20, 2024 (grades 3-5 ends Dec. 19) updated 7/15/2024
T3 (Comprehensive) – March 5-14, 2025 (grades 3-5 ends March 13) updated 7/15/2024

Grades 1 & 2

T1 – October 2-10, 2024 updated 7/15/2024
T2 – January 13-17, 2025
T3 (Comprehensive) – May 5-9, 2025 updated 7/15/2024

Results to Parents & Students

The results may be discussed at parent/teacher conferences

Click here for instructions of how to read your student’s benchmark report

US Civics Assessment – Grades 11-12

Purpose & Use

This test is given to all High School 11th and 12th graders. Schools may choose to test 10th grade also. A passing score of 70% or better is required for graduation and students will have multiple chances to pass.

Administration Dates

Quarter 1 – September 23-27, 2024
Quarter 2 – November 18-22, 2024
Quarter 3 – February 10-14, 2025
Quarter 4 – May 5-9, 2025

Schools wishing to be recognized as a United States Civics All-Star School with the State of Tennessee must have all seniors pass with an 85% or better.

Congratulations!

The following schools reached US Civics All-Star status for the 2023-2024 school year

Central High School
Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy
Chattanooga High Center for Creative Arts
Chattanooga School for the Arts & Sciences
Hamilton County Collegiate High at Chattanooga State
Hamilton County Virtual School

Ivy Academy
Lookout Valley Middle High School
Red Bank High School
Sale Creek Middle High School
Sequoyah High School
Signal Mountain Middle/High School

Results to Parents & Students

Results will be used for graduation requirement. However should a school desire, the score may be used as a grade for students enrolled in a U.S. Government & Civics course.

Universal Screeners in Reading & Math -Grades K-8

Purpose & Use

In the context of an RTI prevention model, universal screening is the first step in identifying the students who are at risk for learning difficulties. It is the mechanism for targeting students who struggle to learn when provided a scientific, evidence-based general education. Universal screening is conducted up to three times per school year (fall, winter, and spring). Universal screening measures consists of brief assessments focused on target skills (e.g., phonological awareness, computational fluency) that are highly predictive of future outcomes.

The first assessment will determine the reading and math levels for each student. The second and third assessments will evaluate the growth of each content over the course of the school year.

Administration Dates

Fall – August 5, 2024 – September 20, 2024
Winter -December 2, 2024 – January 24, 2025 (updated 11/5/2024)
Spring -March 31, 2025 – May 9, 2025

Results to Parents & Students

The results may be discussed during parent/teacher conferences.

Kindergarten Screener

Purpose & Use

Screening is conducted to assist teachers with instructional planning.

Administration Dates

TBA

Results to Parents & Students

Results may be discussed during parent/teacher conferences

ESGi (Educational Software for Guiding Instruction) – Grade Pre-K

Purpose & Use

Teachers assess kindergarten readiness skills and monitor progress throughout the year.

Teachers and families receive individual data for their Pre-K students on Kindergarten Readiness Skills and develop a common definition/understanding for kindergarten readiness in Hamilton County Schools.

Administration Dates

Fall – TBA
Spring – TBA

Results to Parents & Students

Students will be assessed at the beginning and end of the school year with data collected through progress monitoring throughout the year. The results may be discussed during parent/teacher conferences.

College Readiness

ACT – Required for all students to receive a regular education diploma and first opportunity is Grade 11

Purpose & Use

This exam is used to measure college readiness and HOPE scholarship eligibility.

Administration Dates

In-School test dates
Senior Retake
Window 1 – October 1-4 & 7-11, 2024
Window 2 – October 15-18 & 21-25, 2024
Window 3 – Oct. 29-November 1 & 4-8, 2024

State Date for Grade 11 Window 1 – March 11-14 & 17-21, 2025
Window 2 – March 25-28 & March 31-April 4, 2025
Window 3 – April 8-11, 2025 & April 14-18, 2025

Additional information for National Testing Dates can be found at http://www.actstudent.org/

Results

Student reports are sent to the students and the schools directly from ACT. Distribution of results is typically six to eight weeks following the assessment data.

PSAT – optional assessment for students in Grade 11

Purpose & Use

This assessment is the qualifier for the National Merit Scholarship for Juniors only. Sophomores and Freshmen may take for practice.

Administration Date

October 1-31, 2024 – please check with school counselor

Results

Student reports are sent to the students and the schools directly from College Board. Distribution of results is usually in mid-December.

International Baccalaureate (IB) Program Exams

Purpose & Use

The IB offers an education for students comprising of four programmes that focus on teaching students to think critically and independently, and how to inquire with care and logic. The IB prepares students to succeed in a world where facts and fiction merge in the news , and where asking the right questions is a crucial skill that will allow them to flourish long after they’ve left the programmes.

Signal Mountain Middle-High School is a proud IB School.

Administration Dates

April 23 to May 16, 2025 (tentative)

Results

Student reports are sent to the schools in mid-summer.

Advanced Placement (AP)

Purpose & Use

AP is a program created by the College Board which offers college-level curricula and examinations in various courses.

Administration Dates

Spring 2025

Results

Student reports are sent to the students and the schools directly from College Board. Distribution of results is usually in mid-summer.

Please speak with school counselors for AP course opportunities.

Dual Enrollment

Purpose & Use

Dual Enrollment is a program that allows high school students to enroll in college courses for credit prior to high school graduation. Dual enrollment offers an opportunity to obtain a ‘jump-start” on a college career.

Please speak with school counselors for more information.

Administration Dates

UTC

Fall – December 4-10, 2024
Spring – April 23-29, 2025

Chattanooga State

Fall – December 2024
Spring – Spring 2025

Results

Student reports are sent to the students and the schools directly from the colleges. Distribution of results is usually in mid-summer.

Statewide Dual Credit

Purpose & Use

Statewide dual credit classes are college-level courses taught at the high-school level by trained high-school teachers. Course learning objectives are developed by Tennessee high school and college faculty in order to ensure alignment with post-secondary standards. All statewide dual credit courses are approved by the Consortium for Cooperative Innovative Education before they can be offered as a part of the state’s current pilot program (see Public Chapter 967) for more information).

All students enrolled in a statewide dual credit course take the online challenge exam, which is used to assess mastery of the postsecondary-level learning objectives. Students which meet or exceed the exam ‘cut score’ receive college credit that can be applied to any Tennessee public postsecondary institution.

Please speak with school counselors for more information.

Administration Dates

Fall – December 2024
Spring – Spring 2025

Results

Exam scores are reported on the high school transcript to ensure postsecondary credit is accurately awarded but are not used in any state accountability measures.

National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)

NAEP, commonly referred to as “The Nation’s Report Card”, is the largest national representative assessment of what America’s students know and can do in various subject areas including mathematics, reading, and science.

Assessment Dates

January 27-March 7, 2025

No schools have been chosen at this time.

Should you have any questions regarding this assessment, please feel free to visit the NAEP website at http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/ (External website).

Program for International Student Assessment (PISA)

PISA is an international assessment of 15-year-old students, conducted every three years, that measures how well students apply their knowledge and skills in science, reading, and mathematics to solve problems in real-life contexts.

Assessment Dates

No testing for 2024-2025 school year.

No schools have been chosen at this time.

Should you have any questions regarding this assessment, please feel free to visit the PISA website at http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pisa/ (External website).