STAAR / Middle School Testing

Middle School Testing

Middle school students will participate in the following STAAR Assessments:

Grade 6 Reading and Math
Grade 7 Reading, Math, and Writing
Grade 8 Reading, Math, Science, and Social Studies

Student performance:
Once students have taken a STAAR assessment they will receive a score indicating their performance. Student performance will fall in to one of the three categories below.

Level III: Advanced Academic Performance
Level II: Satisfactory Academic Performance
Level I: Unsatisfactory Academic Performance

Time limits:
Beginning in 2012, TEA established a four (4) hour time limit for both STAAR grades 3-8 assessments and STAAR EOC assessments. TEA notes that a four hour time limit should provide sufficient time for the majority of students to complete the test. The rationale for time limits aligns Texas testing practices with other timed state and national assessments, i.e. SAT, ACT and AP examinations. Extended time accommodations for students with unique learning needs will continue to be offered.

Impact on Grade Advancement:

Students will take STAAR exams in the spring of this school year. At this time, the Student Success Initiative requires that students in grades 5 and 8 pass both the reading and math exams to be promoted to the next grade. For one year 2011-2012, this requirement did not apply since cut scores had not been established until the start of the 2012 school year.