State Assessments
State Required Assessments Overview
State assessments are required for federal accountability and also provide a common measure of student progress at the school, district and state levels. Our educators examine the results and use them to help determine which resources and supports are needed to close achievement gaps.
All students are required to meet State Standards in English Language Arts and Math in order to earn a diploma from Ballard High School. The most efficient way to demonstrate proficiency is by taking and passing the state exams given to students the spring of their sophomore year.
Visit the district Smarter Balanced Assessments page to learn more about the testing. The 2022 Smarter Balance Assessment (SBA) achievement levels are available on The Source
Smarter Balanced Assessments (SBA)
SBA Math
- All Grade 10 Students will take the Smarter Balanced Assessments in Math and must have a SPS Laptop (details below).
- Testing Window: May 23 – 25, 2023
- Most students will take the test in their current math class.
- Testing Window: May 23 – 25, 2023
- Any Grade 11 or 12 Students who have not yet passed the exams will have the opportunity to retake the Smarter Balanced Exam in Math.
Important SPS Laptop Requirements
- Students must bring a SPS laptop in order to take the assessments
- Students cannot test on a personal laptop
- Students without a SPS laptop yet must go before or after school or at lunch to pick up a SPS laptop
- SPS laptops will not be available for students on the assessment’s day
- Student must bring their SPS laptops charged AND bring their chargers
- Students that come without a SPS laptop will not be able to take the assessments
- Important SBA ELA: Students will need to bring headphones that work with the SPS laptops for the SBA ELA test. A very limited quantity may be available. All students MUST have and bring a charged SPS laptop and headphones for the ELA portion.
If you have any questions, please contact Eric Ensign at erensign@seattleschools.org or 206-252-1076.
About the Assessments
Typically at Ballard High School we will continue to keep updated from the Seattle Public Schools on administering the Smarter Balanced Assessments in ELA and Math to 10 grade students as a Federal Accountability measure and as a pathway to meet the ELA and Math proficiency requirement. Most students will continue to meet these proficiency requirements by passing the state assessments in ELA and Math.
With the passage of House Bill 1599, students in Washington now have multiple pathways to demonstrate their readiness for their next steps after high school. All students are still required to demonstrate proficiency in the content areas of English Language Arts and Math in order to earn a high school diploma, but the state has provided additional alternate ways for students to show their proficiency.
We will continue to be updated from Seattle Public Schools on all Ballard HS students that are required to pass the state tests in English Language Arts and Math or meet the approved alternatives to these state tests in order to earn a diploma. More information about House Bill 1599 and the multiple pathways to graduation including a FAQ can be found on the Office of superintendent of Public Instruction website.
Refer to SPS Testing and Assessments for current updates and on how assessments are used in Seattle Public Schools.