State and District Testing Information
Meaningful and relevant tests work hand in hand with rigorous academic standards. They measure students' mastery of the standards and the complex thinking and other critical skills students need to be successful in school and in life. There are several tests that help us do this for different reasons and types of students.
APS Gifted and Talented (NGAT)- The Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test (NGAT) is a nonverbal measure of general ability for students in kindergarten through grade 12. The NGAT is a group-administered aptitude test commonly given as an entrance exam into school's gifted programs. Typically, Aurora Public Schools assesses 2nd, 5th, and 6th grade students.
i-Ready Diagnostic for Reading and Math- i-Ready Diagnostic is an adaptive assessment designed to provide teachers with actionable insight into student needs. The Diagnostic offers a complete picture of student performance and growth, eliminating the need for multiple, redundant tests. Teachers do not use this assessment for a grade.
For information on the Diagnostic assessment at home and how you can support your student, check out these resources.
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CMAS-English Language Arts/Literacy (ELA/L) and Mathematics Assessments and DLM-Dynamic Learning Maps as the alternative assessment-Meaningful and relevant tests work hand-in-hand with rigorous academic standards. The state's new tests, called the Colorado Measures of Academic Success, measure students' mastery of the standards and the complex thinking and other critical skills students need to be successful in school and in life. A very small number of students with significant cognitive disabilities may take the Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) as an alternate ELA/Math assessment based on the student's need in an Individualized Education Plan (IEP).
Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS) Science and Social Studies and Alternative test (COALT)-The Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS): Science and Social Studies is Colorado's standards-based assessment designed to measure the Colorado Academic Standards (CAS) in the content areas of science and social studies. This test will be administered to grades 4 and 7 for social studies and grades 5 and 8 for science. All 11th graders will take science and social studies this year. A very small number of students with significant cognitive disabilities may take the Colorado Alternate Assessment (CoAlt) based on the student's need in an Individualized Education Plan (IEP).
PSAT 9/10/SAT- In the spring of 2016, Colorado 10th-graders took the PSAT 10 for the first time, an exam that replaced the English language arts and math exams of the Colorado Measures of Academic Success. The PSAT is aligned to the Colorado Academic Standards and comes with a host of benefits, including test preparation for next year's SAT and scholarship opportunities.
In the spring of 2017, Colorado's 11th-graders took the SAT for the first time, an exam that is accepted for admission and placement in all public colleges and universities in the state.
Colorado ninth-graders took the PSAT as the statewide assessment in English language arts and math beginning in 2018. This replaced the CMAS tests in those subjects for ninth-graders.
For more information on PSAT/SAT, please see College Board page. PSAT/SAT information
WIDA Access (World Class Instructional Design and Assessment)-This is an English Language Proficiency Assessment. In May 2012, the Colorado legislature provided the funding needed to proceed with the adoption of new English language proficiency exams to determine placement and instruction for our English Language Learners.
*For more information on any of these tests, you can visit each test's page on this website under Assessment Resources.
Parent resources:
Colorado Department of Education site
Assessment dates: Visit the Calendar Tab
Opt-out Information (Parent Exemption for State tests)
State law allows parents/guardians to excuse their child from taking all state assessments except WIDA ACCESS. Parents/Guardians can use the Infinite Campus Parent Portal to opt their child out of state assessments (CMAS, CoAlt/DLM, and PSAT/SAT).