We are not big fans of standardized tests at Acton Academy.

Standardized tests fail to measure what we care the most about: grit, perseverance, warmheartedness, tough-mindedness and the attributes of self-management and self-governance that make our studios hum with energy and learning.

Even worse, some schools “teach to the test” in ways that encourage memorization and regurgitation and kill curiosity and a love of learning.

Did I mention we are not big fans of standardized tests at Acton Academy?

Nevertheless, we do give one standardized test each year, the widely accepted Iowa Test series, and we aren’t above celebrating the results:

In the Elementary Studio, curiosity and good citizenship matter more than traditional academic advancement, yet ES Eagles still advance 1.0 to 1.7 grade levels each year.

In the Middle School studio, learning intensity increases, and MS Eagles advance between 1.5 and 3.0 grade levels per year.

After a few years, the cumulative impact is apparent.  ES Eagles are 1.7 to 2.5 grade levels ahead, on average, while MS and LP Eagles are 3.0 to 5.0 grade levels above average.

Even more telling, between 38% and 60% of Middle Schoolers have already placed completely out of high school, depending on the subject.  Most Launchpadders have placed out of high school in all subjects.

Yes, the standards for most national tests are low.  Plus, our data is limited to a few dozen Eagles in each studio, so from a national perspective, it’s anecdotal.   Nonetheless, our results in the upper studios are understated, because many of the older Eagles maxed out long ago, and stopped taking the test.

While we aren’t fans of standardized tests, it’s still reassuring to see how well a learner driven community can perform, even when there’s no teaching to the test, because there’s far more important learning afoot.