• This past October, all 9th grade students took the Aspire test for the first time.  The Aspire is a precursor to the ACT, which is a common university entrance exam that all students will take in the 11th grade.  We at Almond-Bancroft School District know that not all students will attend a university after high school, and we value all post high school career options.  The Aspire does measure college and career readiness, so it has value for all students.  Students will be taking the Aspire again in the spring, so we will be able to see their growth toward their academic goals.

    Please review the included score report, with the assistance of the booklet: “Understanding Your ACT Aspire Results.”  The booklet was sent home with your child, and can also be found in .pdf format on this page.

    These score reports are very helpful in assessing your child’s academic strengths and areas for improvement.  I encourage you to talk to your child about these results and their goals for improvement in their classes.  You are also always encouraged to contact your child’s teachers with any questions, concerns, or ideas for improvements.

    Upon review of this report, if you have any questions or would like to meet to discuss this report and your child’s post high school planning options, please feel free to contact me.  I would be happy to discuss this further and to create a plan for your child to continue to be successful in high school and beyond.

  • This year, Wisconsin has made some changes to our state assessments. In previous years, all students in grades 3-8 and 10 took the Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Exam (WKCE) in November. Moving forward, students will take a combination of exams at different times throughout the year to better assess their knowledge in specific subject areas. The purpose of this letter is to give you a better understanding of these tests. A summary of the  tests and when they will be administered (organized by grade) is attached for your reference.

    The ACT Aspire test will be taken by 9th grade students in October and May, and by 10th grade students in May. This test assesses student readiness in English, mathematics, reading, science, and writing. Scores received from this test will help predict future ACT scores for college entrance.

    The WKCE (science and social studies) will be taken by students in grades 4, 8, and 10. This test will follow the same format as previous years and will continue to assess student knowledge of both science and social studies.

    The ACT Plus Writing will be taken by 11th grade students in March. This test also assesses student readiness in English, mathematics, reading, science, and writing. Students can use this as their required college entrance exam. There will also be an ACT Writing Study conducted in October, which all 11th and 12th grade students will participate in. The purpose of this writing study is to better prepare students for the new enhancements included in the ACT Plus Writing exam.

    The ACT WorkKeys will also be taken by 11th grade students in March. This test is an applied skills assessment system that helps students compare their skills to the skills real jobs require.  Wisconsin students will take three WorkKeys assessments: Locating Information, Reading for Information, and Applied Mathematics.

    The SmarterBalanced test will be taken by students in grades 3-8 in April. This test will assess student knowledge in English/language arts and math. The focus of this assessment is to measure student progress toward college and career readiness. This system provides information and tools for teachers to improve instruction and help students succeed.

    The most important thing that you can do for your child during testing is make sure that he/she comes to school on the days they have tests. Making up a missed test means time out of class and losing important learning time that cannot be made up. This testing is very important for your child and the Almond-Bancroft School District. Let’s do everything in our power to help our children succeed and feel good about themselves for a job well done!

    Thank you for supporting your child and our school during this test. Please call if you have any questions. 

    Erika Spear
    8-12 School Counselor
    District Assessment Coordinator