Standardized Testing at St. James Catholic School
Standardized Tests
Standardized test score results are used to guide curriculum, instruction, and program decisions and also to assist with identifying local and Diocesan-wide professional development needs.
Iowa AssessmentsThe Iowa Assessments are administered to students in grades three through eight and help determine how students are performing on nationwide standards. These assessments measure achievement in several important content areas including Vocabulary, Word Analysis, Reading, Language, Mathematics, Computation, Social Studies, and Science. The exact tests that your student takes will depend on his or her grade level. The Iowa Assessments help teachers identify a student’s strengths and areas that may need additional emphasis. The Iowa Assessments also measure student growth and progress in the content areas assessed from year to year and may provide information about college readiness for older students. The assessments produce information that enables sound decision making and provides a focus for teachers to evaluate instruction.
CoGat Assessment Students in fourth grade also take the CogAT which appraises the development of students’ reasoning abilities using verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal cognitive tasks.
The ACRE ExamThe ACRE Exam is given to students in grades 5 and 8 in the early fall of each school year. The test measures students’ knowledge about the Catholic faith, beliefs, behaviors, attitudes and practices. Scores on this test are determined by what percentile the students place compared to Catholic school peers on the same level of the exam. Fifth graders take the Level 1 exam and eighth-graders take the Level 2 exam. The test provides information regarding our students’ understanding and living of their faith.
Standardized test score results are used to guide curriculum, instruction, and program decisions and also to assist with identifying local and Diocesan-wide professional development needs.
Iowa AssessmentsThe Iowa Assessments are administered to students in grades three through eight and help determine how students are performing on nationwide standards. These assessments measure achievement in several important content areas including Vocabulary, Word Analysis, Reading, Language, Mathematics, Computation, Social Studies, and Science. The exact tests that your student takes will depend on his or her grade level. The Iowa Assessments help teachers identify a student’s strengths and areas that may need additional emphasis. The Iowa Assessments also measure student growth and progress in the content areas assessed from year to year and may provide information about college readiness for older students. The assessments produce information that enables sound decision making and provides a focus for teachers to evaluate instruction.
CoGat Assessment Students in fourth grade also take the CogAT which appraises the development of students’ reasoning abilities using verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal cognitive tasks.
The ACRE ExamThe ACRE Exam is given to students in grades 5 and 8 in the early fall of each school year. The test measures students’ knowledge about the Catholic faith, beliefs, behaviors, attitudes and practices. Scores on this test are determined by what percentile the students place compared to Catholic school peers on the same level of the exam. Fifth graders take the Level 1 exam and eighth-graders take the Level 2 exam. The test provides information regarding our students’ understanding and living of their faith.
Protecting God’s Children
Providing a safe environment for children is a top priority at St. James Catholic School. Every adult (age 18+) who works on our campus or volunteers with our students is required to complete a background check as well as a safety workshop called “Virtus Protecting God’s Children for Adults.” This is mandated for adults who are in contact with children, either at school events and activities or through any school-sponsored event or activity.
Learn more about the mandated training for adults in contact with children here.
Visit the diocesan website, Office of Children and Youth Protection, for more information about our commitment to protect children and young people from sexual abuse.
Click here to schedule your training for “Virtus Protecting God’s Children for Adults.”
Diocesan Ombudsman
Joe Crayon: (816) 812-2500
crayon@ombudsmankcsj.org
Diocesan Victim Advocate
Kathleen Chastain: (816) 392-0011
Chastain@diocesekcsj.org
Reporting Suspected Abuse
The Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph is committed to combatting sexual abuse in the Church. If you are a victim of sexual abuse, or if you observe or suspect sexual abuse:
The Diocese has a sincere commitment to providing care and healing resources to victims of sexual abuse and their families. Please contact the Victim Advocate, Kathleen Chastain, at (816)392-0011 or chastain@diocesekcsj.org for more information.
Providing a safe environment for children is a top priority at St. James Catholic School. Every adult (age 18+) who works on our campus or volunteers with our students is required to complete a background check as well as a safety workshop called “Virtus Protecting God’s Children for Adults.” This is mandated for adults who are in contact with children, either at school events and activities or through any school-sponsored event or activity.
Learn more about the mandated training for adults in contact with children here.
Visit the diocesan website, Office of Children and Youth Protection, for more information about our commitment to protect children and young people from sexual abuse.
Click here to schedule your training for “Virtus Protecting God’s Children for Adults.”
Diocesan Ombudsman
Joe Crayon: (816) 812-2500
crayon@ombudsmankcsj.org
Diocesan Victim Advocate
Kathleen Chastain: (816) 392-0011
Chastain@diocesekcsj.org
Reporting Suspected Abuse
The Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph is committed to combatting sexual abuse in the Church. If you are a victim of sexual abuse, or if you observe or suspect sexual abuse:
- Call the Missouri Child Abuse Hotline at 1 (800) 392-3738 (if the victim is currently under the age of 18), and
- Contact your local law enforcement agency or call 911, and
- After reporting to these civil and law enforcement authorities, report suspected sexual abuse of a minor or vulnerable adult to the Diocesan Ombudsman, Joe Crayon, at (816) 812-2500 or crayon@ombudsmankcsj.org if the abuse involves a priest, deacon, employee or volunteer of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph.
The Diocese has a sincere commitment to providing care and healing resources to victims of sexual abuse and their families. Please contact the Victim Advocate, Kathleen Chastain, at (816)392-0011 or chastain@diocesekcsj.org for more information.