State testing took place the week of April 7th at Struthers High School.
Students must take certain Ohio State Tests in order to graduate. These tests are taken towards the end of the year, and they determine how well the student knows the subject. Students begin to take them every year starting in 3rd grade all the way through 10th grade.
Megan White, a teacher at Struthers High School, had sophomore students take the English Language Arts state test. All year she prepares the sophomores for what they might see on the state test and makes them ready to face it.
The tests help see where each student is learning wise.
“I think there’s value in some type of standard assessment that can gauge where everyone is,” says the teacher.
White previously taught at Windham High School where they also had to take state tests.
Even in different places, it’s still the same test.
“At Windham, it was essentially the same procedure but since there were less students, and they all tested separately,” says White.
Ohio State Tests students have to take in high school are English Language Arts II, Algebra 1, Geometry, Biology, American History and American Government. If a student takes Algebra 1 in 8th grade, then they don’t have to take it again in high school. Students are able to take practice tests at any given time throughout the year to help them be more prepared.
She believes that there are benefits from the state tests.
“I think that it puts some responsibility on the students because if you pass this test then you’re one step closer to graduating,” says White.
