Assessments/Testing Schedule
Redwood Area School District uses a variety of tools to measure and determine students’ academic growth and proficiency of grade level standards. These tools range from informal assessments observed during classroom activities to formal, mandated assessments such as the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA). Educators can use these assessments to identify the strengths and areas of need of their students.
Educators can adjust instructional strategies to meet the needs of the students they work with and promote individual academic growth. Redwood Area School District utilizes multiple assessments to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of programs within the school district.
The Redwood Area School District assessment calendar informs you of the testing windows or specific assessment dates for district-wide or school-wide testing. There are three main assessment "seasons":
Fall (September/October),
Winter (January/February), and
Spring (March-May).
District assessments such as the FASTBridge Reading and Math Assessments are used to monitor student growth throughout an academic year and from year-to-year. These assessments are administered three times a year for students in grades 2-8 2-11 and two times a year for students in first grade and Kindergarten.
The Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCAs) are required for all students in Minnesota to determine student proficiency of academic standards. The reading MCA's are administered to students in grades 3-8 and 10th grade. The math MCA's are administered to students in grades 3-8 and 11th grade in the spring of the year. The science MCA's are administered once a year to students in grades 5th and 8th and in high school when students are taking Biology.