Student Testing

Students at Stenwood ES are tested in many areas throughout the year as a part of the teaching and learning cycle. Parents will receive a notification letter about the testing their child will have as well as the results of each test. Tests provide information about a child's development of knowledge and help teachers better plan for next steps in instruction.

Some of the Virginia and Fairfax County assessments that our students take are:

  • CogAT - Second, any grades 3-6 student who does not have a CogAT score on file
  • CORE Phonics: First-Third
  • Developmental Spelling Analysis (DSA): First- Sixth
  • Early Math Reasoning Assessments -  Kindergarten-Second
  • iReady Universal Screener for math and reading -  First-Sixth
  • Naglieri - First and any student who does not have an abilities score on file
  • Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening (PALS): K
  • Social-Emotional Screener: Third-Sixth
  • Standards of Learning (SOL) tests - Third-Sixth
  • WIDA for ESOL students

The FCPS Grade Level Tests webpage (see link below) offers testing information for each grade level including: 

  • Purpose of test,
  • Time of year when test is typically scheduled, and 
  • Estimated amount of time student will need to take test.

10 Tips to Ease Test Anxiety

FCPS Grade Level Tests

Standards of Learning (SOL) Testing

The state of Virginia has established achievement tests that are administered at the end of 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th grades to measure the mastery of curriculum. The Standards of Learning Tests (SOLs) test students in the areas of reading, writing, math, history and science. Please plan around the dates that will be scheduled so that your child is available during the testing time frame.

  • Grade 3 – Math and Reading
  • Grade 4 – Math, Reading
  • Grade 5 – Math, Reading, and Science
  • Grade 6 – Math and Reading

Visit the Virginia Department of Education website for more information.

iReady Universal Screening

The purpose of this assessment is to identify students in grades 1st through 6th grade who may have gaps in reading and math skills so that teachers can plan supports appropriate for each child. 

The universal screener is an online, computer-adaptive assessment. Computer-adaptive means that the difficulty of questions will adjust based on each child’s performance. When your child gets a question correct, the next question will be a little harder. When your child gets a question wrong, the next question will be a little easier. Through this adjustment process, the computer will narrow in on just the right level for your child.

The universal screener tests will be given three times each year. For the exact dates when your child will test, please contact your child’s teacher. After each testing window, your child’s teacher will share your child’s universal screener results with you. 

iReady is an interactive online learning environment and provides each child with access to individualized instruction based on skills they demonstrate on the assessment.

Immediately following the assessment, iReady will provide your child with needs-based online instruction to support his or her progress in mastering essential skills in reading and math. This tool, along with a variety of other assessments, will provide the teacher with formative information on student progress so they may tailor instruction, intervention, and enrichment to meet the needs of your child and identify areas for growth.

Visit the FCPS iReady Universal Screener webpage for more information.

Social-Emotional learning Screener

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is the process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions and achieve personal and collective goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions (CASEL, 2020). 

 SEL skills include self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. These skills are important for collaboration and perspective taking. They also help students manage their feelings, address challenges, and reach their goals.

Visit the FCPS Social-Emotional Learning Screener webpage for more information.

Our Testing Coordinator