Assessments

In Farmington schools, students' progress and knowledge are measured by a number of assessments, including annual state standardized tests, district assessments called NWEA MAP Growth tests, and various classroom assessments. All of these tests are part of the district's efforts to ensure all students are learning.

Students are given many opportunities to demonstrate both knowledge and skill at every level throughout their time in our schools. As a part of a comprehensive learning assessment, formal exams play an important role in measuring growth over time, providing opportunities for teachers to help identify strengths and areas for continued growth, and ensuring students are ready for life beyond high school.

District and School Improvement Plans

Testing cannot be just about measuring student achievement. Data from tests also are used to improve curriculum and instruction. District 192 continually evaluates its curriculum and provides a coordinated professional development program to ensure teachers have the skills and tools they need to help all students learn.

Testing & Assessment Results

American College Testing (ACT)

The ACT is one of the most valuable assessments our learners complete. The ACT is a national standardized test developed to determine college readiness for high school students and college admissions. Farmington High School offers the ACT to all 11th grade students once a year during the school day. Nearly all FHS students take the ACT and the district uses their best score in each subject since many choose to take the test more than once.

The most current national averages available for the ACT are from 2023.

Our scores:

The FHS class of 2024 had a combined top composite score of 19.5 (most took in April 2023 as Juniors).
The 2023 national average composite score is 19.5 (2023 is the most current information available).
Those in the class of 2024 who chose to take the ACT two or more times had an average composite score of 23.8

NWEA-MAP

For learners in grades 2-8, the NWEA MAP assessment is a powerful tool which provides timely feedback. It is typically administered both in the fall and the spring to show growth over time.

NWEA MAP provides "national norms" every 4-5 years which take into account national testing data from the previous 3-4 years. The most recent national norms available were published in 2020. ISD 192 district averages are consistently in line with the national norms.

Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCAs)

Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCAs)Learners in grades 3-11 take state standardized tests, the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCAs), each spring. The MCAs are designed to test students against the state academic standards in reading, math and science.* Final Results are typically released in late August or early September for the previous school year.

Our scores:

In 2022-2023 the percentage of students in 3rd grade scoring at or above reading proficiency levels exceeded the state average.
In 2023-2024 ISD 192 science proficiency rates rose in all grade levels tested.
In 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 the percentage of students in high school (grades 10 and 11) scoring at or above proficiency levels was lower than the state averages in Math, Reading, and Science. Many FHS families value other assessments (ACT, AP exams,… etc.) over the MCAs and therefore ISD 192 has an exceptionally large opt-out rate.
In 2023-2024, nearly 76% of FHS 11th graders opted out of MCA math testing, 64% of 10th grade learners opted out of MCA reading testing, and more than 50% of FHS learners, a mix of 10th and 11th graders based on coursework rather than grade level, opted out of MCA science testing.

*Only grades 3-8 and 10 take the reading assessment. Only grades 3-8 and 11 take the math assessment. The science assessment is taken in grades 5, 8, and once in high school (either grade 10 or 11) based on coursework.

FastBridge

Contact Information

Bill Ristow
Assessment & Data Coordinator
(651) 252-2851
Email

MCA/MTAS Building Assessment Coordinators

Megan Sowieja - Farmington Elementary School (FES)
Jackie Brand - Meadowview Elementary School (MVES)
Michael Goodwin - North Trail Elementary School (NTES)
Jessica Alladin - Riverview Elementary School (RVES)
Jody Pfeiffer - Akin Road Elementary School (ARES)
Vicky Bruce- Dodge Middle School (DMS)
Dan Thompson - Boeckman Middle School (BMS)
Chad Olson - Farmington High School (FHS)

Testing Calendar

Please Note: Many test dates are reported as testing windows or range of dates, especially those assessments administered on computer. Computer delivered tests cannot be administered to all students at the same time, rather students are tested in groups, generally 25 to 30 at a time. Test windows represent the amount of time during which students may be tested, it does not mean that students are being tested at all times in that test window.

2025-26 Detailed Testing Calendar 2025-26 Testing Calendar

Calendar Archive

Calendar Archive

2018-19 Detailed Calendar

2018-19 District Assessment Calendar

2019-20 Detailed Calendar

2019-20 Testing Calendar

2020-21 Detailed Calendar

2020-21 Testing Calendar

2021-22 Detailed Testing Calendar

2021-22 Testing Calendar

2022-23 Detailed Testing Calendar

2022-23 Testing Calendar

2023-24 Detailed Testing Calendar

2023-24 Testing Calendar

District Assessments

Assessments are used to monitor student progress, guide instruction, and support growth in reading, math, and college readiness. These tools help identify strengths and learning needs early while ensuring students receive targeted support as they move toward graduation. Below is a short description of those assessments.

FastBridge earlyReading (Grades K-1)

Assesses both composite and individual skills of reading at the kindergarten and first grade level. It enables screening and progress monitoring across four domains (concepts of print, phonemic awareness, phonics, and decoding). It allows teachers to see an overall indicator of reading achievement as well as more specific measures to target areas of need.

Time Needed to Administer Assessment: Times vary by student. Approximately 5-7 minutes each trimester.

FastBridge earlyMath (Grades K-1)

Designed to screen and monitor early numeracy skills for students in kindergarten and first grade. Skills are measured in three domains (number, relations, and operations) including: naming numerals, using the mental number line, counting with one-to-one correspondence, understanding the relation between numerals and quantities, composing and decomposing numbers, basic verbal fact fluency, and understanding of place value, and knowledge of symbols in story problems.

Time Needed to Administer Assessment: Times vary by student. Approximately 5-7 minutes each trimester.

FastBridge CBMreading (Grades 1-3)

Used to screen and monitor student progress in reading. Students read a passage aloud for 1 minute while a teacher is recording words read correctly (fluency), errors (accuracy), and comprehension. This is a robust indicator of reading health and is a sensitive indicator of intervention effects over short intervals of time.

Time Needed to Administer Assessment: Times vary by student. Approximately 3-5 minutes each trimester.

FastBridge aReading (Grades 2-8)

A computer adaptive measure of broad reading ability individualized for each student. It is a useful estimate of broad reading achievement at given benchmarking periods over multiple grade levels. This is delivered online and adapts to the child’s answer pattern to match the developmental and skill level of the student.

Time Needed to Administer Assessment: 10 - 20 minutes per classroom administration each trimester.

FastBridge aMath (Grades 2-8)

FastBridge CBMmath Automaticity (Grades 2-8)

FastBridge AUTOreading (Grades 4-8)

Pre ACT (Grade 10)

Developed by ACT for students in grade 10 to prepare for the ACT. Students are assessed in English, math, reading and science. Results will be used to guide students in individual preparation for college readiness and ACT testing as well as for summary evaluation of curriculum and instruction. Results are expected about 4-6 weeks after testing.

Time Needed to Administer Assessment: Test takes four hours on one day. All five subjects are timed.

Learn More About Pre-ACT

ACT with Writing (Grade 11)

A national standardized test developed to determine college readiness for high school students and college admissions. The test has 5 sections: English, Math, Reading, Science & Writing. The state of Minnesota requires all public high schools to offer a college entrance exam to all students in either their junior or senior year. Farmington Schools will offer the ACT to all FHS juniors free of charge during the April statewide administration. The ACT is also available to be taken at FHS multiple times during the school year during the national administrations (not free of charge). Contact the FHS guidance office for further information on the national ACT administrations. Students have access to results 4 – 6 weeks after testing. Summary reports are provided to the school in late August.

Time Needed to Administer Assessment: Test takes four hours on one day. All five subjects are timed.

Click for more info about ACT

CAPTI ReadBasix (Identified Learners Grades 4-9)

Capti ReadBasix is an MDE-approved online screening tool for grades 4–12 used to identify students who are not reading at grade level and may have reading difficulties, including characteristics of dyslexia, as required by the MN Read Act.

Capti identifies specific foundational reading skill gaps, such as vocabulary, decoding, and comprehension, so educators can provide targeted, evidence-based instruction and interventions. Learners are identified for this screener using these qualifications:

High Risk in Auto-reading (FastBridge) at the 4-8th grade level
15%ile or lower on NWEA testing for 9th grade

Time Needed to Administer Assessment: Screener includes 6 subtests and all together is approximately 75 minutes.

State Required Assessments

Minnesota public schools administer state-required assessments to measure student progress against state academic standards and support college and career readiness. These assessments provide valuable information about individual learning, school performance, and statewide accountability while helping educators tailor instruction to student needs.

MCA

The Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCAs) are state tests in reading, math & science developed to measure student achievement on the state standards in those content areas. These tests are required by federal law to be given to all public school students in grades 3 – 8 for reading and math, one grade level in high school for reading and math, and one grade each at the elementary, middle and high school levels for science. Minnesota gives the high school reading test at grade 10, the high school math test at grade 11 and the science tests at grades 5, 8 and when students finish high school biology. Results are used to report school and district progress on the state standards. Official results are made available about 6 weeks after the school year. More information about the MCAs can be found at http://education.state.mn.us/MDE/dse/test/mn/

Parent/Student Resources

Item Samplers - Test examples by subject and grade.
Student Tutorials - General functionality of the online test, tools and all test item types.

Time Needed to Administer Assessment:

Reading: 1-2.5 hours
Math: 1-2.5 hours
Science: .5-1.5 hours

MCA tests are not timed so students may take as long as they need.
These times do not include times needed to practice the online technology tools and test format.

MTAS

The MTAS is a state test in reading math and science developed for special education students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. This test replaces the MCAs for those students, measuring progress in general curriculum. Results are used to report school and district progress on the state standards. Official results are made available about 6 weeks after the school year. More information about the MTAS can be found at http://education.state.mn.us/MDE/dse/test/mn/

Time Needed to Administer Assessment: Testing is one-on-one and times will vary.

Access For ELLs

Assessments for English Language Learning students developed by WIDA, a national consortium, to measure progress towards English Language Development. All students in grades K – 12 identified as needing English Language Learning support are required by federal law to take the Access for ELL tests. Results are used to report school and district progress for English Language learners on English Language proficiency. More information about the Access for ELLs can be found at http://education.state.mn.us/MDE/dse/test/mn/

Time Needed to Administer Assessment: 4 test subjects for a total of up to 3 hours.

College Placement Test

NAEP

The National Assessment of Educational Progress. Administered by the National Center for Education Statistics within the U.S. Dept. of Education. Schools are selected to participate by NCES. Schools are chosen to test reading, math, writing, or all three. Districts that receive Federal Title I funds are required to participate. More information about NAEP can be found at http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/about/

NWEA MAP

The NWEA MAP tests are adaptive computer delivered assessments that are administered to more than 11 million students across the country, which provides a large National Norm sample for comparison. Farmington Schools chooses to administer tests in reading and math to students in grades 2 through 8, as well as a few smaller groups of younger and older students. The tests are administered in the fall and spring with some schools/grades opting to test in the winter as well.

The adaptive nature of the tests means that the test adjusts to the student's responses. As a student answers correctly, the test gets more challenging. As they get items wrong, the test presents easier items. The purpose of the assessment is to identify the student's academic level in the specific content area, regardless of age, grade level or prior achievement.

The fall administration of the tests gives teachers diagnostic information to help with instructional decisions for each student as well as for class groups. Tests are given in the winter to many students to monitor progress. The spring administration is used to measure growth from the beginning of the year as well as from year to year.

The table below gives the average scores for Farmington students in the 2023-24 school year as well as the comparison to the national norm for each grade. Results are only provided in grades and administration where at least 85% of students enrolled participated in the test.

Below the table of results are some resources for additional information about the NWEA MAP tests and how to use or interpret individual student results.

Results for Farmington Public Schools - Average RIT Score

Grade Tested	READING
	Fall 2023		Spring 2024
	District 192	National Norm*	District 192	National Norm*
2	170.0	172.4	183.4	185.6
3	185.5	186.6	194.4	197.1
4	197.3	196.7	203.9	204.8
5	204.8	204.5	210.6	211.0
6	210.7	210.2	214.0	215.4
7	215.0	214.2	218.0	218.4
8	219.0	218.0	220.9	221.7

Grade Tested	MATH
	Fall 2023		Spring 2024
	District 192	National Norm*	District 192	National Norm*
2	176.8	175.0	189.1	189.4
3	189.4	188.5	201.6	201.1
4	201.4	199.6	211.1	210.5
5	211.2	209.1	221.2	218.8
6	217.4	214.8	222.6	222.9
7	223.8	220.2	227.8	226.7
8	227.9	224.9	230.0	230.3

Assessment Opt Out Info

At Farmington Area Public Schools, we are committed to providing our students with personalized learning experiences. To best achieve this, we regularly assess students’ growth. Various classroom and standardized assessments aid teachers in providing for individual instructional needs and identifying class trends. We strive to consider the whole picture when serving our students. Having multiple types of assessments helps provide a fuller picture of each student's needs.

Farmington Area Public Schools administer three sets of large scale standardized assessments: the Minnesota State Accountability tests, FastBridge, and the NWEA MAP tests. We highly encourage you to read more about what each assessment provides for your student(s), and have provided a chart for this purpose.

Parents and guardians do have the right to request their student(s) not participate in a scheduled assessment. If you wish your child not to take one or more of the planned assessments, please make sure you understand the role of the assessment and complete the appropriate form.

MCA/MTAS

Why is the assessment administered?

Who is assessed?

How are the results used?

When are results available?

What is the impact of not participating in the assessment?

Per MDE’s Parent/Guardian Guide and Refusal for Student Participation in Statewide Testing, a “statewide assessment is just one measure of your student’s achievement, but your student’s participation is important to understand how effectively the education at your student’s school is aligned to the academic standards.

Students who receive a college-ready score on the high school MCA are not required to take a remedial, noncredit course at a Minnesota State college or university in the corresponding subject area, potentially saving the student time and money.
Parents and the general public use assessment information to compare schools and make decisions about where to purchase a home or to enroll their children.
Educators and policy makers use information from assessments to make decisions about resources and support provided.
School performance results that are publicly released and used by families and communities, are negatively impacted if students do not participate in assessments.
In Minnesota’s implementation of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act, a student not participating in the statewide assessments will not receive an individual score and will be counted as “not proficient” for the purpose of school and district accountability, including opportunities for support and recognition.”

How do we communicate a desire to not participate in testing?