Stories
Academic reporting: what to expect at ACDS
December 17, 2024
When it comes to knowing how your child is doing in school, there are many ways to find out — a note from a teacher or advisor, a story shared over dinner about something that happened in class, a presentation or performance, even the expression on your child’s face at pickup.
For a more formal snapshot of educational progress, schools have traditionally offered two time-honored tools: parent-teacher conferences and written report cards. These are the most important communications families receive, because they focus on what you care about most — your own children and their growth.
As an independent school with its own educational program, Aspen Country Day School has, in the language of our accreditation standards, “a thoughtful process, consistent with the mission, for using both internal and external data about student learning to make decisions regarding program improvements.”
ACDS students do not take the state-mandated CMAS standardized testing program used in local public schools. Instead, we use MAP Growth, or Measures of Academic Progress, to help evaluate each student’s academic knowledge and growth in reading, math, science, and language usage. It helps teachers ensure they are meeting each student where they are and guiding them to become their best. Here are some good answers to frequently asked questions about MAP Growth.
MAP Growth is not a typical standardized test; it’s adaptive. If a child answers a question correctly, the next question is more challenging. If they answer incorrectly, the next one is easier. This means that each child is essentially taking a different test. It gives a more accurate measure of what they know.
The basics:
- Students in First through Eighth Grades complete MAP Growth assessments
- Assessments are done in class on a Chromebook or iPad
- The tests are taken three times per year
- Each test takes about 45 minutes a day for two or three days
Academic reporting cycle for Lower School
- December: Report cards are posted at the start of winter break. These include a description of each course or subject, a personal comment about each student from the teacher, and a checklist that looks at specific skills and our school’s core values.
- Throughout the year: Expect classroom newsletters posted on ParentSquare, along with individual emails and phone calls to parents from teachers.
- Spring: A full day of in-person parent-teacher conversations for Lower School. These conferences focus on ways to finish strong for the academic year and ensure children are prepared for the coming grade.
- June: final report cards posted
Academic reporting cycle for Middle School
- January: Report cards are posted before the end of the month. These include a description of each course or subject, an individual comment about each student directly from teachers, and a semester grade.
- Throughout the year: Middle School teachers are available via email and continue providing feedback to parents by email, in person, and at presentations. Also, many teachers use mycountryday to post valuable feedback about specific assignments.
- May: Middle School parent-teacher conversations are held, with students participating in the sessions.
- June: Families receive an end-of-year report card including grades, course descriptions, and an advisor narrative.