Assessments
- 2023-2024 Testing Calendars
- End-of-Course Exams (EOCEP)
- Gifted and Talented Testing
- WIN Assessments
- College Entrance Exams
- PSAT
- SCREADY
- ACCESS for ELLs
- Accreditation
2023-2024 Testing Calendars
End-of-Course Exams (EOCEP)
The End-of-Course Examination Program (EOCEP) is a statewide high school assessment program for English 2, Algebra 1, Biology 1, and United States History. Students currently enrolled in these courses for the first semester will begin testing on December 5, 2023. Please see the High School Testing Calendar for details.
A student and parent brochure can be found here (Spanish translation). A student and parent web page is also available to assist parents who are individuals with a disability as defined by the ADA (https://ed.sc.gov/tests/assessment-information/student-and-parent-resources/).
Please note that during testing, students may not be in possession of any electronic devices that can be used for communicating, timing, creating images, or storing images, per the South Carolina Department of Education.
Gifted and Talented Testing
The South Carolina Gifted and Talented Grade 2 Assessment is a statewide assessment used to identify students for district gifted and talented programs.
Florence 1 Schools will test all second graders October 10-24, 2023.
Additional information from the SCDE can be found on the gifted & Talented grade 2 brochure for parents and students.
Florence 1 Schools will test all second graders October 10-24, 2023.
Additional information from the SCDE can be found on the gifted & Talented grade 2 brochure for parents and students.
Gifted and Talented Testing
Identifying gifted and talented students is a multi-step process consisting of referral, screening, and an eligibility assessment by a district evaluation and placement team. The State of South Carolina has established three dimensions of giftedness as criteria for placement in the academically gifted program. To qualify for placement in gifted and talented programs, students must meet the eligibility criteria in two of the three dimensions. Students identified by state criteria in one South Carolina school district are eligible for services in any school district.
Referrals
An elementary student with demonstrated ability or potential for academic excellence may be referred for screening by a parent, student, teacher, or administrator. A referral form will need to be submitted. Students can retest by referral if their (Dimension A) data is two (or more) years old. Referrals are accepted during months coinciding with the school calendar.
Both new (grades 2-5) and returning (grades 3-5) students to F1S may be referred for screening by August 24th. Students referred by this date within proximity of qualifications determined by the Office of Accountability may be tested before the two-year deadline. All other students will be screened for possible testing when scores are two years or older. Referrals will be held until the following school year for all students in whom this applies.
Both new (grades 2-5) and returning (grades 3-5) students to F1S may be referred for screening by August 24th. Students referred by this date within proximity of qualifications determined by the Office of Accountability may be tested before the two-year deadline. All other students will be screened for possible testing when scores are two years or older. Referrals will be held until the following school year for all students in whom this applies.
Screening
Screening begins in the fall and continues throughout the school year. Students who participate in screening and are eligible for gifted and talented services will be placed the following school year. All second grade students will participate in testing for the purpose of identification for the gifted program. Referrals are not necessary for second grade students unless they move into the district after the fall testing.
Criteria Dimensions
Dimension A -Reasoning Abilities
Students must score 93% or higher on a nationally-normed aptitude test. Students are eligible for placement on the basis of aptitude score alone if they score 96% or higher on the composite score of a nationally-normed aptitude test (CogAT). No private testing will be accepted for eligibility, but those results may be considered for referral purposes. Placement through aptitude scores alone occurs when scoring 96% or higher on the composite (total) score of a nationally normed aptitude test.
Dimension B – Achievement
Students must score 94% or higher on reading comprehension and/or mathematical concepts on a nationally-normed achievement test (SC READY, ITBS). Students are NOT eligible on the basis of achievement scores alone.
Dimension C - Academic Performance
A student must first meet either dimension A or B before dimension C is considered. In grades 3-6, students must achieve a qualifying score on performance tasks. In grades 6-12, GPA (grade point average) is reviewed in the core content areas using 3.75 on a 4.0 scale as a qualifying score.
For testing information, please contact Tara McKenzie, F1S Gifted & Talented Test Coordinator (tara.mckenzie@fsd1.org).
WIN Assessments
Florence 1 Schools will test Students in grade 12 on October 30, 2023.
During testing, students may not be in possession of any electronic devices that can be used for communicating, timing, creating images, or storing images, per the South Carolina Department of Education.
Sample questions can be found here.
The South Carolina Career Readiness test for the 23-24 school year is the WIN Work Ready Math, Reading, and Data Assessments. This assessment will include four component subtests: math, reading and data employability assessments and one soft skills-specific assessment. The Work Ready Assessments match the knowledge, skills, and attributes of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate.
More information on the assessments can be found at the South Carolina WIN website.
College Entrance Exams
Florence 1 Schools will offer make-up testing to Students in grade 12 on October 11th for the SAT and on October 17th for the act.
During testing, students may not be in possession of any electronic devices that can be used for communicating, timing, creating images, or storing images.
Students in the eleventh grade are offered the opportunity to take the ACT or the SAT college entrance assessment, at no cost to the students and parents. For selecting students for college entrance exams, grade eleven students are defined as students in their third year of high school after their initial enrollment in the ninth grade. In the fall, twelfth grade students who did not take a ACT or SAT exam the previous year, have the opporutnity to take one of the exams.
SAT
The SAT is a timed exam consisting of 154 multiple choice questions. The exam is divided into three sections: Reading, Writing and Language, and Math. For additional information on the SAT, including practices questions, please visit the Collegeboard website.
ACT
The ACT is a timed exam consisting of 205 multiple choice questions. The exam is divided into four sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science. For additional information on the ACT, including practices questions, please visit the ACT website.
PSAT
Florence 1 Schools will offer the PSAT to 10th graders on October 24th and 8th graders October 24th-31st.
During testing, students may not be in possession of any electronic devices that can be used for communicating, timing, creating images, or storing images.The South Carolina Junior Scholars program identifies current 8th graders with exceptional academic talent. These students are selected based on their performance on the PSAT/NMSQT. Students in the tenth grade are offered the opportunity to take the PSAT, at no cost to the students and parents. For selecting students for the Grade 10 PSAT exams, tenth grade students are defined as students in their second year of high school after their initial enrollment in the ninth grade.
PSAT/NMSQT (Grade 8)
The PSAT/NMSQT is a timed exam divided into two sections: Reading and Writing and Math. For additional information on the PSAT/NMSQT, including practices questions, please visit the Collegeboard website.
PSAT (Grade 10)
The PSAT is a timed exam divided into three sections: Reading, Writing and Language, and Math. For additional information on the PSAT, including practices questions, please visit the Collegeboard website.
SCREADY
The South Carolina College- and Career-Ready Assessments (SC READY) is a statewide assessment in English Language Arts (ELA), mathematics, and science administered to students in grades 3–8. Students will test following the schedule listed below:
May 9th- Reading (grades 3-8)
May 10th- Writing (grades 3-8)
May 16th- Math (grades 3-8)
May 18th- Science (grades 4 and 6)
A student and parent brochure can be found here (Spanish translation). A student and parent web page is also available to assist parents who are individuals with a disability as defined by the ADA (https://ed.sc.gov/tests/assessment-information/student-and-parent-resources/). The Parent Resource page includes ten translations of the Student and Parent Brochures, sample score reports and Score Report User’s Guides which may be helpful to parents. All resources on the SCDE website are in an accessible version compliant with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. Parents with disabilities and parents who may not speak or read English may request alternate formats of these documents or other accommodations by completing a Student and Parent Resources Alternate Request Form by contacting ResourceRequests@ed.sc.gov or calling (803) 734-8289.
Please note that during testing, students may not be in possession of any electronic devices that can be used for communicating, timing, creating images, or storing images, per the South Carolina Department of Education.
ACCESS for ELLs
Students in grades K-12 who have been identified as English-Language Learners are required to take ACCESS for ELLs® or Alternate ACCESS each spring. The assessment monitors students' progress in acquiring English language proficiency and supports schools in making decisions about students' proficiency with English in academic contexts.
Please see the F1S ACCESS Testing Schedule for specific school testing dates. As posted on the 2022-2023 Testing Calendars, the district's ACCESS testing window is January 23rd-March 10th.
Assessment documents are available for parents and/or guardians in alternate formats, such as large print, Braille, languages other than English, and oral translation. Alternate formats can be requested from the SCDE or from your child’s school. If you wish to obtain a copy of an assessment brochure or Sample Individual Student Report in an alternative format, or if you have questions regarding these resources, please complete the Student and Parent Resources Alternate Request Form. If you have any questions about alternate format requests, please contact ResourceRequests@ed.sc.gov or call (803) 734-8289.
Accreditation
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