Standardized Testing for Middle Schools

A very controversial topic in the education system is standardized testing. With certain policies and laws in effect, standardized testing will be around for a long while.

There are many proponents and opponents to standardized testing and both sides do have reasonable arguments. Standardized testing is held throughout all levels of schooling, including those districts that have middle schools.

Various Standardized Tests for Middle Schools

There are a few federal and state enforced standardized tests for middle schools.

Main NAEP Assessments

The Main NAEP assessments are undertaken in middle school in the eighth grade. It is also taken in primary school (in the  fourth grade) and in secondary school (in the twelfth grade). These assessments include tests in a various range of subjects including reading, writing, science and mathematics. There are some subjects that are assessed infrequently which include economics, the arts, geography, US history and civics. The Main NAEP assessments are up to date with the most current technology available. These assessments are reported sometimes at the district and state levels and always at the national level.

State NAEP Assessments

In grade eight of middle school, there are some subjects that are assessed. These State NAEP tests are for participating states who want to monitor their progress in certain subjects over a period of time. These subjects include mathematics, science, reading and writing. The test results of a state can be compared to that of both other states who participate as well as the nation.

Advantages

Standardized testing in middle schools do offer some advantages. For one, the testing holds not only schools but also teachers accountable for teaching students. Standardized testing ensures that students are being taught what they need to know, regardless of the district or the state. Teachers’ and schools’ scores will become public record and if they do not measure up to standards, there can be a fair amount of scrutiny by officials. It is possible for a school to be closed or a teacher to lose his or her job over standardized testing results.

Another advantage to standardized testing in middle schools is the comparisons that they allow. Students test scores can be compared to those in other states, districts and schools. This is important to ensure that students are all being taught the same knowledge and skills, prior to moving on to secondary school.

Standardized testing in middle schools also ensures that teachers have the guidance they need when deciding what to teach and when. For instance, a sixth grade teacher should not be teaching the same content as an eighth grade teacher, and standardized testing can help to ensure that this does not happen.

Disadvantages

While there are many advantages to standardized testing in middle schools, there are also quite a few disadvantages of it as well. Standardized testing relies on how a student performs on a specific day. A few of the students may be having an off day and therefore may not perform to their potential. This can subsequently throw off the test scores. It also does not allow for students who do not perform well under stress and these standardized tests can be incredibly stressful. Some opponents argue that a few days of standardized testing every few years does not adequately assess students’ performance.

Standardized testing may also create “test anxiety” in students which can hider the performance on other tests. When this occurs in middle school, this anxiety may be carried through secondary school for some students. This can greatly affect their academic future. Also, because the student may suffer from anxiety, the results will not reflect the student’s understanding of the subject content.

In addition, middle school teachers may only teach what is necessary for students to pass the standardized tests. This can be detrimental to a student’s academic performance as when he or she moves on to secondary school, he or she may have trouble in school because of the lack of knowledge outside of what the standardized tests teach.