Assessments by Grade Level

APS students participate in assessments across all grade levels. Learn more about specific grade-level assessments below.

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Parents/Guardians, please contact your child’s school with any questions you may have regarding assessments listed.

Pre-K and Kindergarten Assessments

Testing Dates	Assessment	Grade(s)	Purpose of test
Sept. 8 – Oct. 3, 2025 January 5 – January 30, 2026 April 20 – May 15, 2026	Virginia Language and Literacy Screening System (VALLSS)	Pre K K	Provides a snapshot of literacy skills Identifies students at risk for developing reading difficulties Provides data to target instruction
September 22 – October 17, 2025 April 6 – May 15, 2026	Virginia Kindergarten Readiness Program (VKRP)	Pre K K	VDOE required assessment focused on mathematics, social skills, and self – regulation.
October 7 – November 1, 2025 January 6 – January 31, 2026 April 21 – May 16, 2026	VALLSS in Spanish	K	Administered at Claremont and Escuela Key (Pilot Year).
January 12 – March 20, 2026	ACCESS for ELLs and Alternate ACCESS for ELLs	K	Measures annual English language proficiency and progress in compliance with federal and state law.
April 8 – May 8, 2026	Pre-K ELP Assessments (K model)	Pre K	Screening tool used to evaluate English language proficiency.
Flexible, on-demand assessment that can be administered at any time during the school year.	WIDA Screener	K	For potential English learners to determine eligibility for English learner services.

Grades 1-2 Assessments

Testing Dates	Assessment	Grade(s)	Purpose of Test
September 15 – October 3, 2025 January 21 – February 6, 2026 April 20 – May 8, 2026	NWEA Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Growth Math	Grade 1 Grade 2	Computer adaptive assessment used to monitor student growth.
Sept. 8 – Oct. 3, 2025 January 5 – January 30, 2026 April 20 – May 15, 2026	Virginia Language and Literacy Screening System (VALLSS)	BOY: Required for Grade 1 and Grade 2 students MOY: Required for Grade 1 and Grade 2 students EOY: Required for Grade 1 students and Grade 2 students in moderate or high risk band.	Provides a snapshot of literacy skills Identifies students at risk for developing reading difficulties Provides data to target instruction
September 9 – October 4, 2025 January 6 – February 14, 2026 April 21 – May 16, 2026	VALLSS in Spanish	Grade 1	Administered at Claremont and Escuela Key (Pilot Year).
November 3 – December 5, 2025	Naglieri (NNAT3)	Grade 1	A nonverbal measure of general ability that yields a norm – based score helpful in identifying students with the potential for advanced scholastic achievement.
November 3 – December 5, 2025	The Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT)	Grade 2	Appraises the cognitive development of students by measuring students’ learned reasoning abilities.
January 12 – March 20, 2026	ACCESS for ELLs and Alternate ACCESS for ELLs (for students with a WIDA level of 1-4)	Grade 1 Grade 2	Measures annual English language proficiency and progress in compliance with federal and state law.
Flexible, on-demand assessment that can be administered at any time during the school year.WIDA Screener	WIDA Screener	Grade 1 Grade 2	For potential English learners to determine eligibility for English learner services.
April 27 – June 5, 2026	STAMP 4Se	Grade 2	Administered at Claremont and Escuela Key (Pilot Year).

Grades 3-5 Assessments

Testing Dates	Assessment	Grade(s)	Purpose of Test
Q1: August 25 – November 3, 2025 Q2: November 5 – January 29, 2026 Q3: February 2 – April 10, 2026 Q4: April 14 – June 18, 2026	Social Studies and Science Local Alternative Performance Assessments	Grade 3	Measure subject – matter proficiency.
September 15 – October 3, 2025 January 21 – February 6, 2026 April 20 – May 8, 2026	NWEA Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Growth Reading and Math	Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5	Math and Reading Universal Screener to replace the VGA. Computer adaptive assessments used to monitor student growth.
Sept. 8 – Oct. 3, 2025 January 5 – January 30, 2026 April 20 – May 15, 2026 (Grade 3 only)	Virginia Language and Literacy Screening System (VALLSS)	BOY Grade 3: Students new to VA and students who fall in 0-20% on MAP Growth. MOY Grade 3: Students in high risk band at BOY or are new to VA without a BOY score. EOY Grade 3: Students in moderate or high risk band.	Provides a snapshot of literacy skills Identifies students at risk for developing reading difficulties Provides data to target instruction
November 3 – December 5, 2025	The Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT)	Students in Grades 3-5 with no previous CogAT assessment.	Appraises the cognitive development of students by measuring students’ learned reasoning abilities.
January 12 – March 20, 2026	ACCESS for ELLs and Alternate ACCESS for ELLs (for students with a WIDA level of 1-4)	Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5	Measures annual English language proficiency and progress in compliance with federal and state law.
Flexible, on-demand assessment that can be administered at any time during the school year.	WIDA Screener	Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5	For potential English learners to determine eligibility for English learner services.
January 26 – February 13, 2026	APS Science Mid – Year Benchmark	Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5	Required for Monitoring, VDOE Level 2 and Level 3 schools.
March 23 – May 8, 2026	Virginia Alternate Assessment Program (VAAP) 2.0 for Reading, Math, Science	Grade 3 (Reading and Math) Grade 4 (Reading and Math) Grade 5 (Reading, Math, Science)	Multiple choice assessment designed to evaluate the performance of students with significant cognitive disabilities.
Ongoing, due by May 1, 2026	VAAP Collection of Evidence Binders – Social Studies	Grade 4	Students who participate in VAAP tests also complete a collection of evidence (COE) for history/social science.
April 6 – May 1, 2026	SOL Integrated Reading and Writing (IRW) Test Item	Grade 5	State required assessment Assesses students’ ability to integrate reading content into writing.
April 27 – June 5, 2026	STAMP 4Se	Grade 5	Administered at Claremont and Escuela Key.
May 4 – June 5, 2026; ER: June 1 – 12	SOL Non – Writing Spring	Grade 3: Reading & Math Grade 4: Reading, Math & Virginia Studies Grade 5: Reading, Math & Science	SOL tests assess how well students meet the Board of Education’s standards for learning and achievement.

Grades 6-8 Assessments

Testing Dates	Assessment	Grade(s)	Purpose of Test
Q1: August 25 – November 3, 2025 Q2: Nov. 5 – January 29, 2026 Q3: February 2 – April 10, 2026 Q4: April 14 – June 18, 2026	US History I and II Local Alternative Performance Assessments	Grade 6	Measure subject – matter proficiency.
Q1: August 25 – November 3, 2025 Q2: Nov. 5 – January 29, 2026 Q3: February 2 – April 10, 2026 Q4: April 14 – June 18, 2026	World Geography Local Alternative Performance Assessment for Verified Credit	Grade 8	Measure subject – matter proficiency.
September 15 – October 3, 2025 January 21 – February 6, 2026 April 20 – May 8, 2026	NWEA Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Growth Reading and Math	Grades 6-8 *excluding Int. Geometry & above	Math and Reading Universal Screener to replace the VGA. Computer adaptive assessments used to monitor student growth.
November 3 – December 5, 2025	The Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT)	Students in Grades 6 – 8 with no previous CogAT assessment.	Appraises the cognitive development of students by measuring students’ learned reasoning abilities.
January 12 – April 10, 2026	Naglieri (NNAT3)	Students new to APS in grades 6-8 without an ability assessment.	A nonverbal measure of general ability that yields a norm-based score helpful in identifying students with the potential for advanced scholastic achievement.
January 12 – March 20, 2026	ACCESS for ELLs and Alternate ACCESS for ELLs (for students with a WIDA level of 1-4)	Grade 6 Grade 7 Grade 8	Measures annual English language proficiency and progress in compliance with federal and state law.
Flexible, on-demand assessment that can be administered at any time during the school year.	WIDA Screener	Grade 6 Grade 7 Grade 8	For potential English learners to determine eligibility for English learner services.
January 26 – February 20, 2026	APS Mid-Year Science Benchmark	Grade 6 Grade 7 Grade 8	Required for Monitoring, VDOE Level 2, and Level 3 schools.
March 23 – May 8, 2026	Virginia Alternate Assessment Program (VAAP) 2.0 for Reading, Math, Science	Grade 6 (Reading and Math)Grade 7 (Reading and Math)Grade 8 (Reading, Math, Science)	Multiple choice assessment designed to evaluate the performance of students with significant cognitive disabilities.
Ongoing, due by May 1, 2026	VAAP Collection of Evidence Binders – Social Studies and Writing	Grade 7 (Social Studies)Grade 8 (Writing)	Students who participate in VAAP tests also complete a collection of evidence (COE) for history/social science and Writing.
April 6 – May 1, 2026	SOL Integrated Reading and Writing (IRW) Test Item	Grade 8	State required assessment Assesses students’ ability to integrate reading content into writing
April 20 – June 5, 2026	STAMP WS	Grade 8	Dual Language Immersion students only.
May 4 – June 5, 2026; ER: June 1 – 12	SOL Non-Writing Spring	Grade 6: Reading & MathGrade 7: Reading, Math & CivicsGrade 8: Reading, Math, & Science	SOL tests assess how well students meet the Board of Education’s standards for learning and achievement.

Grades 9-12 Assessments

Testing Dates	Assessment	Grade(s)	Purpose of Test
August 26 – September 12, 2025	End – of – Course Non -Writing SOL Tests	Grades 9 – 12	Summer make – up testing as needed for verified credit.
Q1: August 25 – November 3, 2025 Q2: November 5 – January 29, 2026 Q3: February 2 – April 10, 2026 Q4: April 14 – June 18, 2026	Social Studies Local Alternative Performance Assessments for Verified Credit (World Geography, World History I, World History II, VA/US History)	Grades 9 – 12	Required assessments vary by course and are outlined in the locally awarded verified credit plan for each course.
Sept. 9 – Sept. 20, 2025 Jan. 22 – Feb. 7, 2024 April 23 – May 9, 2025	NWEA Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Growth Reading and Math	Grades 9 – 10: Reading Grades 11 – 12: Students in Structured Literacy & students with reading goals in the IEP	Computer adaptive assessments used to monitor student growth.
September 15- October 10, 2025 January 20 – February 13, 2026 April 27- May 15, 2026	Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS)	Students in grades 9 – 12 who score in 1 – 20th percentile on NWEA	Measures foundational reading skills that research indicates are essential for proficient reading.
September 8 – October 10, 2025	W!SE Pretest – Financial Literacy Certification test	Students in grades 9 – 12 enrolled in Economics & Personal Finance	CTE Industry Credentialing Exam
September 15 – October 24, 2025	CTE Credentialing Exam Pre – tests	Grades 9 – 12	Students enrolled in applicable Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses will participate to prepare for post-test exams.
October 8, 2025	PSAT/NMSQT	Grade 10 Grade 11	The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test results provide insights into students’ academic strengths, along with areas they can work on while still in high school.
October 20 – 31 2025 (online tests) October 20, 2025 (paper multiple choice) October 22, 2025 (paper direct writing)	SOL – Fall Writing	Grade 11 Grade 12	SOL tests measure the success of students in meeting the Board of Education’s expectations for learning and achievement.
Q1: October 1 – November 3, 2025 Q3: March 16 – April 10, 2026	ELA Benchmarks	Grade 9 Grade 10 Grade 11	Required for Monitoring (VDOE Level 2, Level 3 schools).
November 3 – December 5, 2025	Naglieri (NNAT3)	Grade 9 students without a prior abilities score	A nonverbal measure of general ability that yields a norm – based score helpful in identifying students with the potential for advanced scholastic achievement.
November 4 – December 19, 2025	Credit – by – Exam STAMP, AAPPL, ASLI, OPI, OPIc, or WPT	Grades 9 – 12	High School students in who can speak and write in another language can take a state-approved exam and potentially earn up to four world language credits.
Fall: November 5, 10, 12, 18, 19, 2025 Winter: January 12, 13, 15, 20 – 21, 2026 Spring: May 12 – 14, 19, 2026	Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB)	11-12 (opt-in)	Required for Monitoring (VDOE Level 2, Level 3 schools)
November 10 – December 5, 2025	SOL -Fall Term Grad Writing 2nd Attempt	Select students in Grade 12	For students who need the Writing Verified Credit.
November 10 – December 12, 2025	W!SE Financial Literacy Certification Post – tests fall (for ACHS and Langston)	Select students in Grades 9-12 enrolled in Economics and Personal Finance.	CTE Credential Exam
December 15, 2024 – February 6, 2026	Winter W!SE & CTE Industry Credentialing Tests	Grades 9 – 12	All first attempts and retakes should take place during this window.
January 12 – February 20, 2026	Naglieri (NNAT3) for Summer Governor’s School Candidates without Two Abilities Assessments	Grade 10 Grade 11	As needed for Governor’s School Academic application.
January 12 – April 10, 2026	Naglieri (NNAT3) Advanced Academics Services	Grades 9 – 11	Students new to APS without an ability assessment & Referrals.
January 12 – March 20, 2026	ACCESS for ELLs and Alternate ACCESS for ELLs (for students with a WIDA level 1 – 4)	Grades 9 – 12	Measures annual English language proficiency and progress in compliance with federal and state law.
December 15 – 19, 2025 and January 5 – 23, 2026; Retakes February 2 – 13, 2026	SOL Fall Non-Writing: End-of-Course Tests	Grades 9 – 12	SOL tests assess how well students meet the Board of Education’s standards for learning and achievement.
January 26 – February 20, 2026 (Covers semester 1 material)	APS Science Mid-Year Benchmark	High School students enrolled in Biology and/or Earth Science	Required for Monitoring (VDOE Level 2, and Level 3 schools).
March 2 – 13, 2026	ELA: Grade 9 &10 Performance Based Assessment for Writing	Grades 9-10	Universal Screening Assessment
March 16 – 27, 2026	W!SE Post-tests spring	Select ACHS and Langston students in grades 9 – 12	CTE Credentialing Exam for students enrolled in Economics and Personal Finance.
Flexible, on-demand assessment that can be administered at any time during the school year.	WIDA Screener	Grades 9 – 12	For potential English learners to determine eligibility for English learner services.
March 23 – May 8, 2026	Virginia Alternate Assessment Program (VAAP) 2.0 (Reading, Math, Science)	Grades 9 – 12	Multiple choice assessment designed to evaluate the performance of students with significant cognitive disabilities.
March 2 – April 3, 2026 (online tests) March 2 -3, 2026 (paper multiple choice writing) March 4, 2026 (paper direct writing)	SOL – Spring Writing	Grade 11	SOL tests measure the success of students in meeting the Board of Education’s expectations for learning and achievement.
First attempt for Term Grads: March 2 – 13, 2026 Second attempt for Term Grads: April 6 – 24, 2026	SOL – Term Grad Writing	Grade 12	SOL tests measure the success of students in meeting the Board of Education’s expectations for learning and achievement.
April 6 – June 6, 2026 Additional test attempts to June 12	SOL – Term Grad Non -writing Spring: End – of -Course	Grade 12	SOL tests measure the success of students in meeting the Board of Education’s expectations for learning and achievement.
April 6 – 17, 2026	STAMP	Grades 9 – 12	World Language Exam – STAMP WS, STAMP for Latin and STAMP for ASL
April 14 – May 22, 2026/ Senior Testing Window May 11-15, 2026	Spring W!SE & CTE Industry Credentialing Tests	Grades 9 – 12	CTE Credentialing Exams. All first attempts and retakes should take place during this window.
May 4 – 15; late testing May 18 – 22, 2026	Advanced Placement (AP) Exams	Grades 9 – 12	AP Exams are standardized assessments aimed at evaluating a student’s proficiency in the content and skills covered in a specific AP course. Registration for these exams takes place through the student’s AP course, and the exams are administered during the College Board’s designated testing window.
April 28 – May 20, 2026	International Baccalaureate (IB) tests	Grades 9 – 12	Students enrolled in an IB course that is testing this year will register to participate during the spring testing window. This includes students in a one-year IB course and students in part two of a two-year course.
May 2026	Diplomas of Spanish as Foreign Language (DELE), Immersion	Grade 11	World Language Exam
May 4 – June 5, 2026 ER: June 1 – 12	SOL Non-Writing Spring: End – of – Course Tests	Grades 9 – 12	SOL tests measure the success of students in meeting the Board of Education’s expectations for learning and achievement.
July 6 – 24, 2026 (online) July 6 – 7, 2026 (Paper Multiple-Choice Writing) July 8, 2026 (Paper Direct Writing/Short Paper)	SOL – Summer 2026: Writing	Grade 11 Grade 12	SOL tests measure the success of students in meeting the Board of Education’s expectations for learning and achievement.
July 6 – 31, 2026 August 24 – September 11, 2026	SOL Non – Writing -Summer 2026: End – of – Course Tests	Grades 9 – 12	SOL tests measure the success of students in meeting the Board of Education’s expectations for learning and achievement.