Testing and Assessment

The Cabarrus County Schools' Accountability Department is responsible for the training, materials distribution, scanning, and reporting of all North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and federally required assessments.  These assessments include the End-of-Grade (EOG) English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics assessments in grades 6-8, as well as the End-of-Grade (EOG) Science assessment in grade 8.  Students also take NC Final Exams (NCFEs) in 6th-8th grade Social Studies and 6th-7th grade Science.  Students enrolled in Math 1, Math 2, and/or Earth and Environmental Science as 7th and/or 8th graders will also take the high school End-of-Course test or NCFE for those subjects.  Based on their educational needs, alternate assessments are available for students with disabilities as identified through the Exceptional Children’s (EC) program.

Cabarrus County Schools focus on growth and proficiency when analyzing individual and collective student test scores.  The Accountability Department develops testing support tools and provides training to CCS Testing Coordinators who assist schools in Cabarrus County as they implement the testing programs.  District personnel, school administrators, and teachers analyze assessment results and use this information to plan for the future with a clear direction and focus on improving student growth and achievement.    

The Accountability Department collects and reports federal data.  Then, working with the Federal Programs and Exceptional Children's  Departments, various programs are assessed, and the results are analyzed and reported.  In addition to looking at specific programs, overall individual school data is presented to the school’s staff.  This data allows principals to evaluate their school’s programs and practices and to make adjustments specific to their school’s needs. 

In addition to standardized assessments, all Cabarrus County Schools middle schools administer quarterly benchmark assessments in 6th-8th grade reading and math and 8th grade science.  The results of these assessments are used by teachers and administrators to determine student mastery of content. Parent reports of student progress on quarterly benchmarks are sent home periodically by the school.