On Tuesday, April 17, seniors will take the California Science Test (CAST) as part of a week of standardized testing. The CAST will be administered to 5th, 8th, and 12th graders, while sophomores and juniors will take the CAASPP ELA and CAASPP Math tests on April 17, 18, 24, and 25, English teacher Debbi Hill said.
The decision of which grade takes which test is made on a state level, and PUSD is mandated to give the prescribed tests.
In past years, sophomores have taken the science test and seniors have not had to take standardized tests, Hill said.
“This is all from the state, we don’t have any choice in what the tests are or who takes them,” Hill said.
The CAST will take approximately 2.5 hours. The CAASPP test requires 95 percent of assigned students to take it for the scores to count in school ranking.
Hill said that she does not know whether the same applies to the CAST, but that all students should take it to maintain PHS’s reputation as a high-achieving school.
Freshman will not take any standardized tests, and will instead have six hours of study hall.
There will be an altered schedule on April 17, 18, 24, and 25 to accommodate testing. The special schedule can by found at www.piedmont.k12.ca.us/phs.