Assessment and Accountability

At TMSA, we believe that frequent, high-quality assessments are essential to guide instruction, support student growth, and ensure that all students are on track academically. Assessments help us identify student strengths and areas for improvement, inform teachers’ lesson planning, and provide families with clear information about student performance. We use both internal and state-mandated assessments so that we can hold ourselves accountable, meet educational standards, and prepare students for college and careers.

North Carolina operates a comprehensive testing and accountability system, designed to measure student achievement, monitor growth over time, and ensure schools meet state and federal requirements. You can learn more about the state’s policies and testing program on the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction website: NC DPI Testing & Accountability.

Below is a list of the assessments used at our school. Click on each assessment name to learn more about what it is, how often it is administered, and how we use the results to help students succeed.

List of Assessments

MAP Testing

Administered three times a year: Fall, Winter, Spring.
Measures student growth over time in subjects such as reading, language usage, and math.
Helps teachers adjust instruction throughout the year to meet students where they are.

MAP Testing (Measures of Academic Progress)

What It Is: MAP Growth is a computer-adaptive assessment developed by NWEA that measures a student's academic progress in subjects such as mathematics, reading, language usage, and science. Unlike traditional tests, MAP Growth adapts in real-time to each student's responses, providing a personalized measure of academic achievement and growth. This adaptive nature allows for a more accurate assessment of a student's abilities, regardless of their grade level.

What Parents Need to Know:

At our school, MAP Growth is administered three times a year—fall, winter, and spring—to track individual student progress over time. The results help teachers tailor instruction to meet each student's needs. Parents can expect to receive a Family Report detailing their child's RIT score, which reflects their academic knowledge and growth. These reports also provide insights into areas where students are excelling and areas that may require additional support. For more information, visit the Family Guide to MAP Growth.

NC Check-Ins

TMSA Check-Ins

Monthly checkpoints in months when there is no major test like MAP or NC Check-In.
Internal, smaller assessments meant to show where students are in their learning of recent content.
Teachers use results to adjust upcoming lessons and interventions.

What It Is:

TMSA Check-Ins are internal assessments administered monthly at Triangle Math and Science Academy. These assessments are designed to gauge student understanding of recently taught content and provide real-time data on student comprehension. Unlike state-mandated assessments, TMSA Check-Ins are smaller, informal evaluations that focus on specific learning objectives.

End-of-Grade (EOG)

State-mandated test for all students in specified grades and subjects in North Carolina.
Measures student performance on the goals, objectives, and grade-level competencies specified in the North Carolina Standard Course of Study.
Subjects typically include Reading, Mathematics (Grades 3-8), and Science (Grades 5 & 8).
Results are used for school accountability, federal reporting, and to identify areas where instruction should be improved.

What It Is:
The North Carolina End-of-Grade (EOG) Tests are designed to measure student performance on the goals, objectives, and grade-level competencies specified in the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. These assessments are administered to students in grades 3 through 8 and cover subjects such as reading, mathematics, and science.

End-of-Course (EOC)

Also state-mandated in North Carolina. NC DPI
For courses like Biology, English II, Math I, Math III. NC DPI
Students must take the corresponding EOC at the end of that course. Assesses mastery of essential standards.

What It Is:
End-of-Course (EOC) Tests are state-mandated assessments administered to students at the end of specific high school courses, such as Biology, English II, and Math I. These assessments measure student proficiency in the content covered during the course and are required for credit.

PSAT / NMSQT / PSAT 8/9 / PSAT 10

Offered to students in grades 8, 9, 10, 11 (and some 6 & 7 grade students) for the NMSQT.
The purpose is to prepare our students for college-entrance exams, build familiarity with test formats, and strengthen stamina.

What It Is: The PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test), PSAT 8/9, and PSAT 10 are standardized assessments administered by the College Board to measure college readiness. The PSAT/NMSQT is administered to 11th graders in the fall, while the PSAT 8/9 and PSAT 10 are administered to 8th, 9th, and 10th graders in the spring.

PreACT

State-mandated for all 10th graders in North Carolina. NC DPI+1
Designed to simulate the ACT experience (English, Mathematics, Reading, Science).
Gives early feedback on where students are, what they may need to work on before actual college entrance testing.

What It Is: The PreACT is a state-mandated assessment administered to 10th graders in North Carolina. It is designed to simulate the ACT college entrance ex

ACT

AP Tests (Advanced Placement Exams)

Administered by the College Board; correspond with AP courses.
Each AP course is modeled on a comparable introductory college course.
Taking AP courses and doing well on the exams can help students earn college credit, stand out in college admissions, and strengthen readiness for higher education.

What It Is: Advanced Placement (AP) Tests are college-level exams administered to students enrolled in AP courses. These exams are developed by the College Board and are designed to measure students' proficiency in specific subject areas.

WIDA Tests (for Multilingual Learners)

State-mandated for students identified as ML (multilingual learners) based on their home language survey at the beginning of the year.
Measures English language proficiency to support students in accessing curriculum and to ensure interventions as needed.

What It Is: WIDA tests are state-mandated assessments for multilingual learners, measuring English language proficiency. These assessments are designed to assess students' abilities in listening, speaking, reading, and writing in English.

SAT Saturdays

Our school is an official College Board test center.
Hosts SAT test administrations on Saturdays for our students and those from surrounding regions.

What It Is: SAT Saturdays are test administrations held at your school, allowing students to take the SAT on a Saturday morning. These sessions provide convenient opportunities for students to take the SAT without having to travel to other test centers.

CTE Exams (Career & Technical Education Exams)

For students who choose the CTE pathway.
Some are state tests tied to specific CTE courses.
Validates students’ skills in technical or career‐oriented areas, and may help with certifications or college credit.

What It Is: Career and Technical Education (CTE) exams are assessments for students pursuing career-focused pathways. These exams validate the skills and knowledge students have acquired in their chosen career fields.

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