State Required and National Assessments

Oregon's Statewide Assessment System (OSAS) currently includes summative assessments administered annually by subject matter and grade. Pursuant to federal and state accountability requirements, Oregon public schools test students in English language arts and math in grades 3 through 8 & 11 and science in grades 5, 8, & 11. Additional required assessments include an English language proficiency assessment for English learners (ELs) and the Oregon Extended Assessment for students with significant cognitive disabilities. These summative assessments used for accountability are customized for the needs of Oregon students; test development for these assessments has included Oregon teachers in all feasible aspects (e.g., item development, scoring rubric validation, standard setting). 

For more information regarding OSAS in the MSD, please view our webpage. 

The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT^®) is   structured similarly to the SAT^®, has the same sections and timing, and measures the   same Reading and Writing and Math skills students learn in the classroom—the   knowledge and skills students need to succeed in college and career. 

 View the Parent's Guide to PSAT/NMSQT

 PreACT^® assessments offer students an early experience with ACT test items, provides a predicted ACT test score, and offers a wealth of information to help students get the start they need to be college ready. 

 Anchored on the ACT college and career readiness standards, PreACT assessments help   educators, students, and parents, identify areas of academic strength and opportunity. Students may opt to have their information shared with colleges and scholarship agencies, providing greater opportunities for recruitment and scholarship awards. 

 The SAT is an entrance exam used by most colleges and universities to make admissions  decisions. The SAT is a multiple-choice, pencil-and-paper test created and administered   by the College Board. 

 The purpose of the SAT is to measure a high school student's readiness for   college, and provide colleges with one common data point that can be used to compare   all applicants. College admissions officers will review standardized test scores alongside the student's high school GPA, the classes you took in high school, letters of recommendation from teachers or mentors, extracurricular activities, admissions interviews, and personal essays. How important SAT scores are in the college application process varies from school to school.

The ACT^® test reflects what students have learned throughout high school and provide colleges and universities with excellent information for recruiting, advising, placement, and retention.

Many times, students who are not considering higher education rethink their plans when they see their ACT test results. This is especially true for underrepresented students. To support college and career planning, the ACT also offers a career exploration component to help students identify career options.

 Our children take tests for everything, but the National Assessment of Educational   Progress (NAEP) - also called The Nation's Report Card - is unique.

 The Nation's Report Card is a resource offering a window into the state of our K-   12 education system and what our children are learning. The results provide educators,   policymakers, elected officials, and parents across the country with invaluable   information regarding how our children are doing compared to other children in large urban districts, other states, and the nation.

When our children participate in NAEP, they are helping to inform decisions about how to improve education in your state and in our country. The participation of your child can and often does lead to change.

 AP Exams are standardized exams designed to measure how well you’ve mastered the   content and skills of a specific AP course. Most AP courses have an end-of-year exam, but   a few courses have different ways to assess what you’ve learned—for example, AP Art and   Design students submit a portfolio of work for scoring.

Avant STAMP™ is used to measure real-world language proficiency and earn credentials like Seals of Biliteracy. It is used as a general language proficiency assessment of Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking skills for second-language learners.