Students in Cincinnati Public Schools are tested throughout the school year to determine their knowledge and skill level. These tests measure students' achievement to determine their strengths and weaknesses so teachers can adjust and reteach lessons to meet students' needs.
Elementary students participate in testing required by the Ohio Department of Education. This includes:
Students in grades K-8 participate in a series of assessments throughout the school year in reading, mathematics, science and social studies.
These assessments are timed to parallel the teaching of the district's curriculum and are tools to alert teachers to students' needs.
Cincinnati Public Schools is using the TerraNova Third Edition norm-referenced standardized test published by McGraw-Hill. This test compares a student's score to a standard of average performance of other students across the nation. Grade 6 students are tested in October and grade 2 students are tested in February.
Students interested in enrolling in the Special College Preparatory Program at either Dater or Walnut Hills High Schools must pass an entrance examination.
All Cincinnati Public Schools' grade 6 students take the SCPP exam as part of their standardized testing in October. Students may take the SCPP examination each school year from grades 6 to 11. However, students entering after grade 9 also must be able to meet SCPP graduation requirements to graduate on time.
A student may schedule a retest after receiving written notification of failing scores. Students must wait a minimum of 90 days before taking a retest.
Students whose families reside outside of the Cincinnati school district may take the entrance examination for a $50 fee. Parents should call Test Administration for details (513-363-0186).
A high school student must pass all 5 Ohio Graduation Test (OGT) exams prior to receiving a high school diploma, as required by the Ohio Department of Education.
High school students take a practice test in the fall of ninth and tenth grade. The official administration of the Ohio Graduation Tests begins in the spring of each student's tenth-grade year.
All students in grade 10 participate in PLAN and students in grade 11 participate in the PSAT administrations. Both tests help students prepare for successful performance on the SAT and ACT. Grade 10 students may request to participate in the PSAT during their 10th grade year.
PLAN — PLAN is the pre-ACT examination. It is a comprehensive guidance resource that helps tenth-grade students measure their current academic development, explore career/training options and make plans for the remaining years of high school and post-graduation years. It is administered to students in grade 10 in December in the Cincinnati Public Schools at no cost to students.
PSAT — The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT) is a program co-sponsored by the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation. It is given in October of the eleventh grade year at no cost to students. National Merit Scholarships are awarded based on these scores. Grade 10 students may request to participate in the PSAT during their 10th grade year.
ACT — The ACT Plus Writing is administered to all grade 11 students in April. Many juniors take the ACT in December. Those that do should retake the ACT in April and improve their scores. To take the ACT at any time other than the April administration, students must register direclty with ACT.
SAT — All juniors and seniors are encouraged to take the SAT during their junior and/or senior years. To take the SAT, students must register direclty with SAT.
GuidanceNet and Peterson's Online Prep Courses are available free to all Cincinnati Public Schools' high school students.
Peterson's StudentEdge provides information for college planning and includes online preparation courses for the PSAT, ACT and SAT. CPS students can explore careers, research colleges throughout the United States and search for financial and other advice as they plan for college.