Welcome to Virtus Academy’s testing page. Below you will find the different tests our students will take this year, parent resource links, and our testing calendar. If you have any questions about state testing, please contact Kate Lawhon at klawhon@virtusacademysc.org.
Parents, please help your child have a successful testing experience by:
- Encouraging a good night’s sleep
- Eating a nutritious breakfast
- Avoid scheduling appointments on test day.
- Remind students that no cell phones and smartwatches will be allowed in the testing center.
State & District Tests
| Test Name | Who and What? | When | Required or Optional? | Grades | Parent Resource Links |
ACCESS for ELLs | Given to any student who is identified as an English Language Learner to determine English proficiency. | Testing takes place in February. | Required | K-9 | https://ed.sc.gov/tests/assessment-information/student-and-parent-resources/ |
KRA | The KRA determines each child’s readiness level from an evaluation of four domains: Social Foundations, Language/Literacy, Mathematics, and Physical Well-Being. | Within the first 45 days of school. | Required | K | https://ed.sc.gov/tests/elementary/kindergarten-readiness-assessment-kra/ |
| MAP | MAP is a norm-referenced measure of student growth over time. MAP assessments, joined with other data points, provide detailed, actionable data about where each child is on his or her unique learning path. Students take Reading and Math MAP assessments. | MAP takes place three times a year, Fall, Winter, and Spring. | Required | Required K-8 *9th Grade Optional | https://teach.mapnwea.org/impl/maphelp/Content/AboutMAP/ParentGuidance.htm |
| CogAt/ Iowa | All second-grade students are identified for this program by demonstrating high-performance ability or potential in academic and/or artistic areas. | Testing takes place in October. | Required | 2 | ttps://ed.sc.gov/tests/elementary/gifted-and-talented-program-grade-2/ |
| Performance Task Assessment | Students who meet the criteria for Dimension A (aptitude) or Dimension B (achievement), but not both, must take the primary level in grades 2 and/or 3 and the intermediate level in grades 4 and/or 5. | PTA will take at the end of April and the beginning of March. | Required | 2-5 *must qualify | https://ed.sc.gov/tests/elementary/gifted-and-talented-program-grade-2/ |
| SC READY | Given to all students in Grades 3–8. Students will take an assessment in Reading, Writing, and Math. | Testing will occur in May. | Required | 3-8 | https://ed.sc.gov/tests/assessment-information/student-and-parent-resources/ |
| SC READY | Students in Grades 4 & 6 will take a Science assessment | Testing will occur in May. | Required | 4 & 6 | https://ed.sc.gov/tests/assessment-information/student-and-parent-resources/ |
| End of Course Examination (EOC) | EOC exams are for any student taking certain high school courses (English II, Algebra I, Biology, US History). The exam counts as 20% of the student’s final grade in the course. | Testing will occur in December and May. | Required | 9 & 10 | https://ed.sc.gov/tests/assessment-information/student-and-parent-resources/ |
Testing Dates
Click the link to read Testing Electronic Device Procedure
All dates are tentative and are subject to change.
