NWEA

AMS Desert Sky has partnered with Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) and implemented an assessment tool that promotes student learning and motivation, program evaluation, and accountability. NWEA’s Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) are computerized, adaptive tests that assess each student's current level of academic performance in Reading, Language Usage, and Mathematics. When a student takes a MAP test, the difficulty of each question is based on how well a student answers all the previous questions. The adaptive nature of the test essentially personalizes the test to each student. As a result, every student has the same opportunity to succeed and maintain a positive attitude toward testing. At the end of the test, the final score is an estimate of the student’s achievement level.

Three times per year – in September, January and May - all AMS Desert Sky students take the MAP assessment to determine their instructional level and to measure academic growth throughout the school year. Following the testing period, parents receive a report showing their child’s achievement level and growth. Results of MAP testing are aligned to Arizona State Standards and provide feedback that is used to modify teaching and learning activities for instruction. Reports are cumulative and show student growth across time. So, if you know your child's score, you can predict if he/she is in danger of not passing AzMERIT testing.

At AMS Desert Sky, we encourage all parents to speak with your child's teacher or an administrator to understand your child's NWEA results and to be able to use it to gauge academic progress. The numbers are not always easy to comprehend, so AMS Desert Sky staff and faculty are always ready to help you with understanding and interpreting NWEA results.