Assessment Scores

The following paragraphs briefly describe the types of scores provided for STAAR. For more detailed technical information on assessment scores, refer to the Technical Digest, available on the Texas Education Agency (TEA) Assessment Reports and Studies webpage.

Scale Scores

The scale score is a statistic that allows comparison of scores by adjusting for variations in the difficulty of the forms used in different administrations. Thus the scale score can be used to determine whether a student achieved the Approaches, Meets, or Masters Grade Level performance standard, to compare one student’s performance to another’s on the same assessment, and to compare performances by cohorts of students on the same assessment in different years. However, the scale score cannot be used to evaluate a student’s progress across grades and subjects or courses.

Raw Scores

The raw score represents the number of points earned on an assessment. By itself, the raw score has limited utility; it can be interpreted only in reference to the total number of points on an assessment. Raw scores should not be compared across test administrations. The raw score is reported by overall assessment and by reporting category. Refer to the Raw Score Conversion Tables webpage for raw score to scale score conversion tables for STAAR.

Performance Standards

The following paragraphs briefly describe the performance standards that apply to STAAR. A student whose performance falls within the Masters Grade Level, Meets Grade Level, or Approaches Grade Level categories has passed the assessment. A student whose performance falls within the Did Not Meet Grade Level category has not passed the assessment. Refer to the STAAR Performance Standards webpage for more information.

Masters Grade Level

Performance in this category indicates that students are expected to succeed in the next grade or course with little or no academic intervention. Students in this category demonstrate the ability to think critically and apply the assessed knowledge and skills in varied contexts, both familiar and unfamiliar.

Meets Grade Level

Performance in this category indicates that students are highly likely to succeed in the next grade or course but might still need some short-term, targeted academic intervention. Students in this category generally demonstrate the ability to think critically and apply the assessed knowledge and skills in familiar contexts.

Approaches Grade Level

Performance in this category indicates that students are likely to succeed in the next grade or course with targeted academic intervention. Students in this category generally demonstrate the ability to apply the assessed knowledge and skills in familiar contexts.

Did Not Meet Grade Level

Performance in this category indicates that students are unlikely to succeed in the next grade or course without significant, ongoing academic intervention. Students in this category do not demonstrate a sufficient understanding of the assessed knowledge and skills.

Standard Reports

The following section describes the STAAR reports that district testing personnel receive. In addition, reporting data files are provided. The sample reports shown are for illustrative purposes only. They show the basic layout of the reports and the information they provide. Refer to the Assessment Reports page of these Coordinator Resources for additional information on standard reports.

Student Report Cards

After each administration, an electronic student report card is provided for each student for whom an assessment record was submitted. Student report cards are confidential and must be made available to parents and guardians.

• For STAAR grades 3–8 assessments, all subjects tested during the school year are included in one combined student report card.

• For STAAR EOC assessments, the student report card includes cumulative results for all courses tested.

• A student taking an above-grade assessment other than Algebra I will receive two separate report cards, one for each grade. Results for Algebra I will be shown on the grade 7 or grade 8 student report card.

A. Performance at a Glance

This section shows the student’s performance levels for all STAAR assessments the student has taken. If the student has taken an assessment more than once, his or her best performance level for that assessment will be shown.

B. Family Portal Information

This section provides the web address and unique access code for parents and students to access information from the student report card online.

C. Performance Standards

STAAR performance standards are listed with abbreviated descriptions. Refer to the Performance Standards topic on this page for complete descriptions.

D. Identification Information

The top of the student report card contains identification information for both the student (name, identification number, etc.) and the school (district, campus, etc.). For confidentiality, the TSDS ID is indicated by six asterisks followed by the last four digits of the ID number.

E. Percentile

This section shows the percentage of students who scored the same as or lower than the student’s score when comparing to all Texas students who took the same assessment the previous year. Refer to the Frequency Distributions webpage for more information about the previous year’s scoring distribution.

F. Student’s Scale Score

The scale score is an indicator of the student’s performance on the assessment. The scale score allows comparison of the student’s score with the score ranges of the Did Not Meet Grade Level, Approaches Grade Level, Meets Grade Level, and Masters Grade Level performance standards and indicates where the student’s performance falls within the ranges.

G. Scale Score Bar

This bar shows how well students could perform on the assessment. The placement of the student’s scale score shows how the student actually performed on the assessment. The score ranges for each performance level are also indicated.

H. Test Results

The student’s test results are shown. A report message might appear in place of the test results, indicating the student’s performance status or scoring information. Possible messages are as follows:

• NOT TESTED—ABSENT

This message indicates that the student was absent during the assessment.

• NOT SCORED

This message indicates that the assessment was not scored, likely due to the student’s illness or a testing irregularity.

• NO INFORMATION AVAILABLE

This message indicates that no testing information is available for the assessment.

I. Reporting Categories

The content and skills tested on each assessment are grouped under reporting categories. The reporting categories for each assessment are listed.

J. Points Earned

This section shows the number of points the student earned out of the total points possible in each reporting category.

K. Test Information

This section shows whether the student took the assessment online with or without embedded supports or on paper with or without embedded supports. This section also indicates whether a Spanish assessment was administered.

L. Dates

This section indicates the reporting date and the test administration date.

M. Lexile Measure

The Lexile measure indicates the difficulty of the materials that the student should be able to read successfully. The Lexile measure is reported in a range from Beginning Reader (BR or 0L) to a positive value in each grade (e.g., 1100L at grade 3, 1200L at grade 4).

N. Quantile Measure

The Quantile measure indicates the progress made in learning mathematics content and identifies what new mathematics content students might be ready to learn next. The Quantile measure is reported in a range from Emerging Mathematician (EM or 0Q) to a positive value in each grade (e.g., 400Q at grade 3, 500Q at grade 4).

O. Resources Tailored for the Student

The resources provided here are personalized strategies for each student based on his or her assessment results. For grades 3–8, the resources are organized by subject. For EOC assessments, the resources provided are useful for college and career planning.

Open

Open

For STAAR grades 3–8 only, the following information is also represented.

P. Algebra I Results

Students in grades 7 and 8 who took the Algebra I assessment during the spring administration will have their Algebra I results shown on their student report card along with the other grade-level assessments they took during the spring administration.

Q. Mathematics Badge Indicator

The mathematics badge indicator is added for eligible students in grades 5, 6, and 7. The badge informs parents that there is enough supporting evidence in their child’s assessment history to indicate that their child is ready to meaningfully engage in advanced mathematics course materials, such as those in Algebra I coursework.

R. Progress Measure

This section shows the evaluation of a student’s progress across grades in a particular subject. A student can achieve Limited, Expected, or Accelerated progress.

S. Previous Year Test Results

The left column of the graph shows the student’s previous year scale score as well as the performance level into which the student’s scale score falls.

T. Current Year Test Results

The right column of the graph shows the student’s current year scale score as well as the performance level into which the student’s scale score falls.

A. Identification Information

Identification information shown at the top of the label includes the student’s name, TSDS ID, birth date, and grade and the district number and name, campus number and name, and date of testing.

B. Info

Information about the assessment is provided whenever the student is assessed with a special version of the assessment. The information is indicated by one or two characters, and the description of the characters used will also be listed on the label. Possible characters are as follows:

C. Test Date

The test date of the student’s most recent performance status or the date when the student passed is given for each subject or course.

D. Scale Score

The scale score the student earned is shown. A report message might appear in place of a scale score for an assessment, indicating the student’s performance status or scoring information. Possible messages are as follows:

• NOT TESTED—ABSENT

• NOT SCORED

• NO INFORMATION AVAILABLE

E. Performance Level

The label indicates the performance level achieved for each subject or course.

A. Identification Information

The top of the report contains identification information for the campus. The grade and subject or course assessed, report date, and date of testing are also indicated.

B. Info

Information about the assessment is provided whenever the student is assessed with a special version of the assessment. The information is indicated by one or two characters or a symbol, and the description of the characters or symbol is shown in the legend. Possible messages are as follows:

C. Student Information

Students are identified by name and TSDS ID.

D. Grade

The student’s enrolled grade at the time of the assessment is indicated.

E. Scale Score

The scale score the student earned is shown.

F. Performance Levels

• Approaches Grade Level

  • If the student achieved Approaches Grade Level, “YES” is shown.

  • If the student did not achieve Approaches Grade Level, “NO” is shown.

  • If the student’s test was marked with a score code other than “Score,” “---” is shown.

• Meets Grade Level

  • If the student achieved Meets Grade Level, “YES” is shown.

  • If the student did not achieve Meets Grade Level, “NO” is shown.

  • If the student’s test was marked with a score code other than “Score,” “---” is shown.

• Masters Grade Level

  • If the student achieved Masters Grade Level, “YES” is shown.

  • If the student did not achieve Masters Grade Level, “NO” is shown.

  • If the student’s test was marked with a score code other than “Score,” “---” is shown.

G. STAAR Progress Measure

This section shows the evaluation of a student’s progress across grades in a particular subject. A student can achieve Limited, Expected, or Accelerated progress.

H. Results for Each Reporting Category

This section of the report shows the reporting category titles, the total number of points possible in each reporting category, and the points each student earned in each category.

A report message might appear in place of reporting category–level data, indicating the student’s performance status or scoring information. Possible messages are as follows:

• NOT TESTED—ABSENT

• NOT SCORED

• NOT SCORED—PREVIOUSLY ACHIEVED APPROACHES GRADE LEVEL STANDARD

• NO INFORMATION AVAILABLE

• ADMINISTERED STAAR SPANISH TEST or ADMINISTERED STAAR TEST IN ENGLISH

I. Total Students Listed and Total Students Tested

Total Students Listed indicates the number of students included on the report. Total Students Tested indicates the number of students who took this assessment.

J. Average Scale Score

This number indicates the average scale score for the total number of students tested.

K. Performance Results

• Number

• Percent

L. Average Reporting Category Results

These columns summarize reporting category–level data for all scored assessments. For each reporting category, the average number and the percentage of points achieved are calculated. The average points earned is the sum of points earned divided by the total number of students assessed. The average percentage of points earned is the average points earned divided by the points possible.

M. Process Number

The process number found in the lower-right corner of the report is a unique number assigned to the report by the testing contractor for each administration. Refer to this number if questions arise about the report.

E. Number of Students Tested

The number of students tested is provided for each demographic group and program category listed.

F. Average Scale Score

The average scale score is displayed for each demographic group and program category listed.

G. Performance Levels

The numbers and percentages of students who achieved the Did Not Meet, Approaches, Meets, and Masters Grade Level performance levels are displayed for each demographic group and program category listed.

H. Results for Each Reporting Category

These columns summarize reporting category–level data for all scored assessments. For each reporting category, the average number (#) and the percentage (%) of points earned are calculated. The average number of points earned is the sum of points earned divided by the total number of students assessed. The average percentage of points possible is the average number of points possible divided by the total points possible.

I. Process Number

The process number found in the lower-right corner of the report is a unique number assigned to the report by the testing contractor for each administration. Refer to this number if questions arise about the report.

J. Program Summaries

For the combined summary report, these columns summarize program data for all scored assessments. For each program and across all programs, the average number (#) and percentage (%) of students in each demographic group achieving the Approaches Grade Level performance level is shown.

E. Item

The item number corresponds to the question number on the assessment for that grade and subject or course.

F. Reporting Category (RC)

The number of the reporting category measured by each test question is listed. An abbreviated list of reporting categories can be found on the Summary Report. The complete description for each reporting category is available in the assessed curriculum documents on the STAAR Resources webpage.

G. Process Number

The process number found in the lower-right corner of the report is a unique number assigned to the report by the testing contractor for each administration. Refer to this number if questions arise about the report.

E. Process Number

The process number found in the lower-right corner of the report is a unique number assigned to the report by the testing contractor for each administration. Refer to this number if questions arise about the report.

Extended Constructed Responses

An image of the student’s extended constructed response is shown.

A report message might appear in place of the student’s response, indicating the student’s performance status or scoring information. Possible messages are as follows:

• NOT TESTED—ABSENT

• NOT SCORED

• NOT SCORED—PREVIOUSLY ACHIEVED APPROACHES GRADE LEVEL STANDARD

• NO INFORMATION AVAILABLE

STAAR EOC Assessments as Alternate Assessments

Former TAKS, TAAS, and TEAMS examinees can take the appropriate STAAR EOC assessment as an alternate assessment to fulfill testing graduation requirements. Refer to the TAKS webpage for additional information.

A former examinee will receive a student report card that shows how well the examinee performed on the assessment. “Passed” means the student’s score met the required passing score for that assessment. “Did Not Pass” means the student’s score did not meet the required passing score for that assessment.