Academic Information

St. Helen School follows the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and State of Ohio requirements regarding standardized testing. The Archdiocese of Cincinnati requires that the iReady Alternative Assessment be administered annually. Students receiving State of Ohio scholarships may be required to participate in additional state testing.

 

The Archdiocese of Cincinnati also requires all students in grades 5 and 8 to take the ACRE (Assessment of Child Religious Education) Test. All students, regardless of religious affiliation, take the test. In addition, students in grades 5 an d8 will take the State Science Test.

 

Assessment results will be reviewed for instructional purposes, as well as for intervention, guidance, grade-promotion decisions and evaluation. In addition to standardized testing, multiple and appropriate assessments aligned with the curriculum will be utilized to measure student growth.

 

Third Grade Reading Guarantee:  Grades K-3:  Students are assigned to take a screening at the beginning, middle, and end of each school year in Reading. This screening determines if the student is “OnTarget” or not. If the student is not on target, they will be placed on a RIMP (Reading Improvement Monitoring Plan) with conferences and communication with the parents throughout the year. 

 

In third grade, a student must attain a reading promotion score on an approved alternative test(s) or the state’s English Language Arts test in the student’s third grade year in order to be promoted to fourth grade.  If a promotional score is not earned on the spring state test or spring alternative test, the third grade student would be retained in third grade.  This requirement is part of Ohio’s Third Grade Reading Guarantee.  Although Summer School could be recommended, it would not be accepted for a promotion to the Fourth Grade due to the State’s score return dates and St. Helen enrollment process. Specific info can be found on ODE’s website referencing the  Third Grade Guarantee .