NCS Testing Information

NCS administers academic testing to help inform our curricular and instructional practices. Unlike the state tests, these tests are required and do not have an opt-out option.

We space our testing days out, throughout the year, and administer on days that won’t directly impact already occurring classroom instruction.  Although some of these assessments can help students meet state testing standards, these assessments are useful for teachers to evaluate their current teaching practices and help differentiate instruction moving forward.  Several of these assessments also give students and families valuable insight on career outlooks and pathways.

Grade level dictates what assessment a student will be taking:

  • 7th & 8th Grades - easyCBM

  • 9th, 11th and 12th Grades- Work Keys

  • 10th Grade- Pre ACT

The following is an overview of the assessments and their intentions:

easyCBM

The easyCBM system was developed by educational researchers at the University of Oregon in close collaboration with school district partners across the United States. It is designed to give teachers insight into which of their students may need additional instructional supports as well as to provide a means by which they can measure the effectiveness of their teaching.

Work Keys

The Work Keys assessment is designed to measure career-relevant skills for workplace success.  Not only does it meet graduation requirements, but it also measures foundational skills required for success in the workplace.  It helps measure both hard and soft workplace skills, relevant to any occupation, at any level, across industries,  that can affect job performances.  This assessment has value WAY beyond the state expectation to take it

Also, successful completion of Work Keys can lead to earning a National Work Keys Readiness certificate, and will match identified skills to available jobs in the community. Both are tools for resume building and career exploration!

Pre ACT

PreACT assessments provides you and your child with information that can help you select the right high school courses, think about ways to target areas for improvement, and even begin discussions about college and career. 

These assessments helps identify:

 • How a student is doing with the skills and knowledge required to succeed in college and beyond

 • Areas where extra help or additional courses are needed

 • Career possibilities on PreACT 8/9 and PreACT that match the student’s interests 

Your student also may choose to have their information shared with colleges and scholarship agencies when they take PreACT assessments, which can help them get discovered for college recruitment and scholarship possibilities.