Standardized Testing

Catholic Schools... More Than a Number

Annually, the academic achievement of the elementary and secondary students is assessed for academic growth. The Department of Catholic Schools has implemented the Renaissance/Star Assessments for students in grades two through eight.

While in the past, the Diocese of Trenton has offered the Terra Nova or Iowa Assessments, in the 2019-2020 school year, the Diocese began to employ the Renaissance/Star Assessments. The Renaissance/Star Assessments are nationwide norm-referenced assessments and score the students of the diocese in relationship to all students in the United States who participate in these assessments.  The Renaissance/Star Assessments are given three times during the school year to measure each student's growth accurately as the year unfolds. With the national average at a score of 50%, the schools of the Diocese of Trenton characteristically score higher on standardized assessments.

Students in kindergarten and first grade are assessed in the classroom through daily formative assessment practices and observation. This is in keeping with appropriate developmental practices for early childhood.

Our students do not participate in the PARCC assessment.

Elementary Schools

The elementary school students score higher than the national average in reading and math on the Renaissance Star Assessments.  

Secondary Schools

Secondary school students take the PSAT, SAT, ACT, and AP assessments at various times during their high school experience.