Gorham School District
Prepare and Inspire!
Assessment in The Gorham Schools
Gorham Schools uses a variety of assessments to understand student learning, guide instruction, identify students who may benefit from additional support or enrichment, and evaluate the effectiveness of our educational programs.
No single assessment provides a complete picture of a student’s learning. Educators consider assessment results alongside classroom performance, student work, teacher observations, and other information when making instructional decisions.
State and National Assessments
Students participate in state and national assessments at designated grade levels and in specific subject areas.
These may include:
Maine Through Year Assessment in reading and mathematics for students in grades 3–8 and second-year high school;
Maine Science Assessment for students in grades 5, 8, and third-year high school;
WIDA ACCESS for students identified as multilingual learners;
Alternate assessments for eligible students with the most significant cognitive disabilities; and
National Assessment of Educational Progress, or NAEP, for selected students and schools.
Gorham High School students may also participate in college and career readiness assessments such as the PSAT and SAT.
District and Classroom Assessments
Gorham Schools also uses district and classroom assessments to monitor student progress and inform instruction.
District assessments may include NWEA reading and mathematics assessments, common grade-level or course assessments, and other screening or progress-monitoring tools.
Teachers also use:
Formative assessments during instruction to provide feedback and determine next steps; and
Summative assessments at the end of a unit, course, or period of instruction to evaluate student learning.
Examples may include classroom discussions, observations, quizzes, tests, essays, projects, presentations, laboratory work, and portfolios.
Understanding Assessment Results
Assessment results are one source of information used to understand student progress. Families are encouraged to contact their child’s teacher, school counselor, or principal with questions about an assessment or an individual student report.