DeSoto ISD Shares Reminders Regarding Upcoming STAAR Testing Dates and Tips for Success
The DeSoto Independent School District (ISD) Teaching and Learning Department has been working diligently to support staff and scholars before the upcoming State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR, exams will begin in April.
STAAR is the state’s testing program and is based on state curriculum standards in core subjects including reading/language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. Students enrolled in grades 3-8 and EOC courses participate in testing. The tests are offered online for our students.
Students in grades 3-8 are assessed during the Spring Semester each school year.
- RLA and Math: Grades 3-8
- Science: Grades 5, 8
- Social Studies: Grade 8
End of Course (EOC) assessments are given three times a school year - December, April, and June.
Students take the test as they are completing the course and will continue to test until they meet a passing performance on the test.
Students must pass the EOC assessments as part of their graduation requirement.
DeSoto ISD Spring 2024 STAAR Testing Schedule:
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April 10
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STAAR Grades 3-5 Reading; STAAR EOC English I
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April 11
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STAAR Grades 6-8 Reading; STAAR EOC English II
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April 16
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STAAR Grades 5, 8 Science; STAAR EOC Biology
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April 17
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STAAR Grades 8 Social Studies; STAAR EOC US History
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April 23
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STAAR EOC Algebra I
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April 24
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STAAR Grades 3-8 Math
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As families prepare for the upcoming STAAR exams, here are five ways to support student preparation and success:
5. Participate in meaningful practice leading up to the exams by:
- attending STAAR boot camps;
- accessing and completing an online practice test;
- and asking your teacher questions to clear up any misconceptions after the practice test.
4. Provide words of encouragement and reassurance to scholars to build confidence by:
- writing notes of encouragement to your student;
- sharing a time when you, a parent, guardian, or caregiver faced a test and what you did to reassure yourself and ultimately succeed
3. Support students’ healthy habits by:
- ensuring scholars go to bed early and wake up early to support adequate rest at night and additional time at night to support students’ preparation for the day ahead;
- ensuring students eat a good breakfast before school or take advantage of free breakfast and lunch at campus to provide healthy, balanced meals and snacks throughout the day;
- carrying a water bottle to stay hydrated throughout the day.
2. Help students gather and prepare necessary materials by:
- charging school-issued devices such as Chromebooks and bringing the power cord to ensure tech access throughout the day;
- packing pencils, highlighters, and other needed tools;
- adding or updating the testing app on school-issued devices to ensure access to assessment software before the day of testing;
1. Ensure students are clear on their plan for the day before they head to school for testing by:
- confirming the testing schedule and classroom location the day before testing;
- clarifying which test students are scheduled to take each day so that they can mentally prepare for that subject matter;
- assisting high school students in understanding their testing status for graduation purposes.
DeSoto ISD is rallying behind every scholar in its school community to soar during STAAR!
Ready! Set! Succeed!