-
Township High School District 214 administers a variety of assessments to its students to provide them, their parents, and their high schools' staff with performance information. Such information is used for:
- Placement in appropriate courses
- Identifying the need for additional instruction
- Monitoring student growth
- Determining the extent to which students are meeting district and state standards
- Providing information to enrich the curriculum and instruction
- Providing information for making post-secondary educational and vocational decision
Township High School District 214 coordinates assessment programs for high school students at Buffalo Grove High School, Elk Grove High School, John Hersey High School, Prospect High School, Rolling Meadows High School, Wheeling High School, Vanguard School and The Academy at Forest View.
State of Illinois Assessment Program that complies with the assessment requirements of the State Board of Education including tests that are required to receive a high school diploma.
College-Bound Assessments aid students in making decisions with regards to their college plans. These are assessments such as the National ACT and SAT where students register for the test online.
Each of the District 214 high schools has its own Assessment Center that handles testing for students at their school. Please contact the staff (see Contacts) if you have questions about testing at your student's school.
Assessments
-
8th Grade Testing and High School Enrollment
High School Enrollment
High school enrollment is the first important step for 8th grade parents/guardians and students to get ready for high school. Information was mailed and emailed home to 8th grade parents/guardians in mid October. District 214 received student information from the surrounding area middle schools and junior highs schools.
Online Enrollment for 8th grade students entering a District 214 high school in the fall of 2021 took place in October and November.
If your 8th grade will be attending a District 214 high school in the 2021-2022 school year and you missed the online enrollment process, please contact the student services department at the high school your student will attend to determine how to enroll.
8th Grade Testing
District 214 high schools will not administer the Saturday, PSAT 8/9 placement exam to 8th grade students this fall due to safety concerns. District 214 administration will revisit the possibility of offering a Saturday PSAT 8/9 later in the school year.
-
ACCESS for ELLs
Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State-to State for English Language Learners (ACCESS for ELLs) is a standard-based English Language Proficiency Test that tests students in the four language domains: Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing. All students in the EL Program must take this test.
Dates: January – March 2021
Locations: BGHS, EGHS, JHHS, PHS, RMHS, WHS, Newcomer Center, The Academy at Forest View, Vanguard, and Young Adult Program.
-
ACT National Testing
The ACT measures educational development in the areas of English, mathematics, reading and science reasoning. This assessment measures skills necessary for success in postsecondary educational settings, including students’ reasoning abilities and knowledge of subject matter fields. Although all Saturday ACT tests are optional, many post secondary institutions require the ACT or the SAT. ACT offers an optional 30-minute writing test (ACT+).
Target Population: Predominantly college-bound 11th and 12th grade students.
See ACT's Covid-19 Update page for information regarding ACT testing dates in 2020-2021.
Township High School District 214 requested to offer testing at the below high schools. Due to Covid-19 more decisions regarding large scale testing will be determined one month at a time. We will update the ACT Test Dates below as decisions are made.
If your student requires accommodations for testing under an IEP or 504 plan, contact the special education department in your school at the beginning of the school year.
All test dates are Saturdays.
ACT Test Dates
Test Date: September 12, 2020 (cancelled)
Registration Deadline: August 14, 2020
Location(s): BGHSTest Date: December 12, 2020
Registration Deadline: November 6, 2020
Location(s): EGHS, JHHSTest Date: February 6, 2021
Registration Deadline: January 8, 2021
Location(s): PHS, RMHS, WHSTest Date: June 12, 2021
Registration Deadline: May 7, 2021
Location(s): WHSNote: There are other ACT dates available that District 214 high schools cannot host due to other school conflicts
SAT vs ACT
What's the difference between the SAT and the ACT? Follow the links listed below to learn how these two college entrance exams differ.
ACT vs. SAT - Which test should I take and why?
How do SAT and ACT scores compare?
More Information
-
Advanced Placement (AP) Exams
Advanced Placement (AP) Exams are offered for students who have pursued college-level AP courses in the high schools in District 214. Certain score levels on tests may allow students to receive advanced placement and/or credit upon entering college. The AP test is created by the College Board.
Target Population: Students enrolled in AP courses (optional).
Fee: approximately $94 for each test
Dates: May 3–7 and May 10–14, 2021
Locations: Most AP Exams will take place at the student's high school. Some AP exams such as AP Chinese Language and AP Japanese Language are not available at all high schools. Students may have to test at another school in District 214.
Registration: Online Registration and Payment for AP Exams took place in October. Contact the Assessment Center at your high school for specific deadline dates. A $40 late fee will be charged for any students who did not meet the fall registration deadlines.
College Board's AP Exam Information
College Board's 2021 AP Exam Calendar
College Board's AP Bulletin 2020-21 - Not available yet from College Board.
Contact your high school for paper registration forms, refund requests, and test-day general information.
-
Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB)
ASVAB helps students to:
- Identify interests, skills, and work related values
- Match their interests and skills with occupations
- Learn how to get information about careers
- Develop career decision-making skills
ASVAB Testing Details
Target Population: The ASVAB test is generally taken by 11th and 12th grade students who wish to investigate more specific careers. The ASVAB is sponsored by the Armed Services.
Test Date: The test date has not been determined for the 2020-2021 school year yet.
Register for the ASVAB through the Assessment Center at your high school.
District 214 does release the ASVAB scores to military recruiters. Any parent/guardian who wishes such information not be released should contact the student services department per district policy. The scores of students for whom such a request has been submitted will not be provided to military recruiters.
More Information
Questions? Call the toll-free number of the U.S. Military Entrance Processing Command: 1-800-323-0513.
-
Illinois Science Assessment
All District 214 11th grade students will participate in the Illinois Science Assessment (ISA). This state required assessment will be administered in school using student iPads and is aligned to the Illinois Learning Standards for Science incorporating the Next Generation Science Standards, which were adopted in 2014.
The ISA will be administered in March/April 2021.
-
PSAT State Testing
PSAT 8/9 and PSAT 10 are assessments in the College Board’s SAT Suite of Assessments. The PSAT 8/9 and PSAT 10 are guidance resources that help students measure their current academic development, explore AP course options, and assess readiness for college and career options. The assessments include Reading, Writing and Language, and Math. The PSAT 8/9 and PSAT 10 will help prepare students for the SAT assessment taken during their junior year and are state required assessments.
The PSAT 8/9 and PSAT 10 will be administered to all 9th and 10th grade students on April 14, 2021 as part of the Illinois state testing requirement. 9th grade students will take the PSAT 8/9 and 10th grade students will take the PSAT 10.
Students with testing accommodations that require testing over two days, will complete testing on both April 13 and April 14.
More information about the PSAT 8/9 and PSAT 10 can be found on College Board's website using the links below.
-
SAT State and National Testing
SAT measures the knowledge and skills that research shows are essential for college and career readiness and success. The assessment is composed of Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, Math, and an optional essay test. Although optional, the SAT or the ACT is required for admission by many post-secondary institutions. SAT Subject Tests are offered to aid college placement in specific subject areas. Students may choose from 20 SAT subject tests.
SAT State Testing
Students must take the SAT to receive a regular high school diploma, unless the student is eligible to take the alternative assessment or otherwise exempt from testing. For more detailed information about the Illinois state requirements, you can view Illinois Public Act 100-0222.
Seniors
A state-funded SAT with Essay is scheduled for all high school seniors on September 23 or October 27, 2020. Senior students who do not test in the fall will be scheduled for the April 13 SAT administration. Students who have an extended time accommodation per their IEP or 504 Plan may be required to test over 2 consecutive days, depending on the type of accommodation.
Juniors
A state-funded SAT with Essay is scheduled for all high school juniors on Tuesday, April 13, 2021. Students who have an extended time accommodation per their IEP or 504 Plan may be required to test over 2 consecutive days, depending on the type of accommodation.
Optional Saturday National SAT TestingTarget Population: Predominantly college-bound 11th and 12th grade students.
See College Board's Covid-19 SAT Update page for information about SAT testing
Township High School District 214 requested to offer testing at the below high schools. Due to Covid-19 more decisions regarding large scale testing will be determined one month at a time. We will update the SAT and Subject Test Dates as decisions are made.
If your student requires accommodations for testing under an IEP or 504 plan, contact the special education department in your school at the beginning of the school year.
All test dates are Saturdays.
SAT and Subject Test Dates
Test Date: August 29, 2020 (cancelled)
Registration Deadline: July 31, 2020
Location(s): BGHS, JHHSTest Date: October 3, 2020 (cancelled)
Registration Deadline: September 4, 2020
Location(s): RMHS, WHSTest Date: November 7, 2020 (cancelled)
Registration Deadline: October 7, 2020
Location(s): PHSTest Date: December 5, 2020
Registration Deadline: November 5, 2020
Location(s): WHSSAT only Test Date
Test Date: March 13, 2021
Registration Deadline: February 12, 2021
Location(s): WHSNote: There are other SAT dates available that District 214 high schools cannot host due to other school conflicts.
SAT vs ACT
What's the difference between the SAT and the ACT? Follow the links listed below to learn how these two college entrance exams differ.
ACT vs. SAT - Which test should I take and why?
How do SAT and ACT scores compare?
More Information
-
Seal of Biliteracy
Seal of Biliteracy September Assessment Information
Students at District 214 have the opportunity to be recognized by the State of Illinois for earning proficiency in English and an additional language. The Illinois State Board of Education's Seal of Biliteracy Program will place an official seal on diplomas and official recognition will be placed on transcripts of students who qualify. To learn more about the qualifying scores for the Seal of Biliteracy, please visit page 125 of our 2020-21 Academic Handbook.
If your student has met the Seal of Biliteracy proficiency requirements in both English and another language, you will receive a letter from the high school student services department that the student achieved the Seal of Biliteracy.
District 214 offered the Seal of Biliteracy language assessments in September and December during the 2020-2021 school to both Grade 11 and Grader 12 students. District 214 gave options to test in school and at home. We are not offering any more administrations of the AAPPL and Avant Stamp language assessments for this school year.
District 214 plans to offer the language assessments again during the 2021-2022 school year. Test dates and registration will be posted in the fall.
-
State and AP Testing Covid-19 Updates
The purpose of this page is to keep high school students, and parents/guardians up to date on changes in testing due to Covid-19. As District 214 makes decisions about testing or if guidelines from the Illinois State Board of Education change, we will update the information on this page.
State-sponsored SAT Testing Update
Seniors unable to take the cancelled Spring 2020 in-school SAT are eligible to take the state-sponsored SAT exam this fall on September 23 or October 27 in their high school. Participation in the state-sponsored SAT (or Dynamic Learning Maps Alternative Assessment, DLT-AA) is a state graduation requirement. Seniors who do not register to take the test in the fall will be required to test in April 2021.
SAT and ACT National Saturday Exam Updates (week of November 9, 2020)
The spread of Covid-19 has created a number of difficulties for administering open enrollment standardized assessments on national testing dates. Of significant concern is the possible participation by students outside district boundaries from areas with significantly higher infection rates. We cannot limit national testing to only students in our district.
Maintaining social distance during testing, lack of available proctors, increased cleaning needs, and other administrative complexities have led to the decision to cancel the following assessments:
- Saturday, November 7 SAT: Prospect High School
- Saturday, October 3 SAT: Rolling Meadows High School and Wheeling High School
- Saturday, September 12 ACT: Buffalo Grove High School
- Saturday, August 29 SAT: Buffalo Grove High School and John Hersey High School
- Special accommodation testing for August, September and October ACTs and SATs
Given these circumstances, many colleges and universities are being flexible with their testing requirements, decision deadlines, and waiving standardized test scores from the application process for the high school class of 2021. Please check college websites to get the most accurate information on policies and deadlines.
District 214 understands cancelling these assessments may cause some difficulties for individual students. There is an in-school administration of the SAT scheduled for seniors on September 23 or October 27, 2020.
SAT Updates
See College Board's SAT Covid Update page for more information and how to contact College Board Customer Service.
See District 214's SAT page for basic information about the SAT exam and when District 214 high schools plan to host the Saturday exams.
ACT Updates
See ACT's Covid update page for updates, along with test center cancellations and frequently asked questions.
ACT Customer Service Contact Information
See District 214's ACT page for basic information about the ACT exam and when District 214 high schools plan to host the Saturday exams.
-
The National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT)
The National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) measures the reading, writing and language, and math skills needed for college and career. Scores from the PSAT/NMSQT may qualify 11th grade students to be National Merit Scholars.
Why take the PSAT/NMSQT?
We encourage high achieving juniors to take the PSAT/NMSQT because it identifies National Merit Scholars and enables students who score at the highest levels to qualify for college scholarships. It allows students to compare their academic skills with those of other college-bound students.
As explained in the PSAT/NMSQT Student Guide, this optional test has several purposes:
- Entrance into the National Merit competition for Junior students. In order to become a National Merit finalist, students must have a record of consistent high academic performance in all grades 9-11.
- Prediction of college entrance exam scores
- Measurement of critical reading, mathematics and writing skills important for success in many post-high school educational settings.
College Board's PSAT/NMSQT Test Information
If you have questions, contact the Assessment Center at your high school.
Contacts
-
High School District 214
Julie Kim
District Assessment Coordinator
julie.kim@d214.org | 847-718-7861 -
Buffalo Grove High School
Julie Chybicki-Zimmer
Assessment Supervisor
julie.chybicki@d214.org | 847-718-4030Robin Christie
Assessment Assistant
robin.christie@d214.org | 847-718-4036 -
Elk Grove High School
Carol Biging
Assessment Supervisor
carol.biging@d214.org | 847-718-4425Mirta Beyer
Assessment Assistant
mirta.beyer@d214.org | 847-718-4536 -
John Hersey High School
Joan Lazarz
Assessment Supervisor
joan.lazarz@d214.org | 847-718-5002Shannon Tryba
Assessment Assistant
shannon.tryba@d214.org | 847-718-4826 -
Prospect High School
Janice Sokolik
Assessment Supervisor
janice.sokolik@d214.org | 847-718-5413Maureen Seul
Assessment Assistant
maureen.seul@d214.org | 847-718-5414 -
Rolling Meadows High School
Deanne Pacione
Assessment Supervisor
deanne.pacione@d214.org | 847-718-5633Andree Smithson
Assessment Assistant
andree.smithson@d214.org | 847-718-5632 -
The Academy at Forest View
Cathy Giroux
Counselor/Assessment
cathy.giroux@d214.org | 847-718-7792 -
Vanguard School
Patrick Kain
Counselor/Assessment
patrick.kain@d214.org | 847-718-7861 -
Wheeling High School
Paula Kruty
Assessment Supervisor
paula.kruty@d214.org | 847-718-7135Julie Passmore
Assessment Assistant
julie.passmore@d214.org | 847-718-7026