Who takes it: All Ascend students
When: August 11, 2026, January 5, 2026, and April 23, 2027
Areas assessed: Reading, Writing, and Mathematics

ACCUPLACER is Ascend’s primary schoolwide college-readiness assessment. Developed by the College Board, ACCUPLACER is widely used by colleges and universities to determine student readiness for college-level coursework and course placement. Ascend uses ACCUPLACER to establish a baseline for each student, measure academic growth throughout the year, and provide teachers with information that can help guide instruction and intervention.

Students complete ACCUPLACER Reading and Writing assessments, including the WritePlacer essay, as well as mathematics assessments that adapt to the student’s demonstrated level of proficiency. ACCUPLACER results allow Ascend to measure growth specifically in Reading, Writing, and Mathematics across the school year.

Who takes it: Sophomores & Juniors
When: October 13, 2026
Purpose: College readiness, SAT preparation, and National Merit Scholarship eligibility

The PSAT/NMSQT is a College Board assessment designed to measure the reading, writing, and mathematics skills students will use in college and careers. It also provides valuable preparation for the SAT.

Most importantly, the PSAT/NMSQT is the qualifying assessment for the National Merit Scholarship Program. Because Ascend believes students should have access to this opportunity, we offer the assessment even though it is not required or funded by the State of Colorado.

Sophomore scores provide an early indication of college readiness and help students identify areas to strengthen before their junior year. Junior scores provide additional SAT preparation data and may qualify students for recognition through the National Merit Scholarship Program.

Who takes it: Seniors who choose to participate
When: October 16, 2026
Purpose: Optional college entrance assessment

Ascend offers seniors the opportunity to take the ACT as an additional college entrance examination. Although Colorado uses the SAT as its statewide college entrance assessment, some students may perform differently on the ACT or may wish to have both scores available when applying to colleges and scholarships.

Providing access to the ACT gives students another opportunity to demonstrate their academic readiness and determine which college entrance assessment best represents their abilities.

Who takes it: Juniors
When: April 9, 2027
Purpose: State science assessment

The Colorado Measures of Academic Success, or CMAS, Science assessment measures how well students have mastered Colorado’s academic standards in science. Juniors complete the science assessment as part of Colorado’s statewide testing program.

CMAS Science asks students to apply scientific knowledge and reasoning rather than simply recall facts. Results provide information about student achievement in science and contribute to Colorado’s evaluation of school academic performance.

Who takes it: Sophomores
When: April 15, 2027
Purpose: State assessment and college-readiness measurement

The PSAT 10 is part of Colorado’s statewide assessment system and is administered to all 10th-grade students. The assessment measures skills in Reading and Writing and Mathematics and is closely aligned with the SAT students will take during their junior year.

Results provide students, families, and teachers with information about college and career readiness while also helping students identify areas for continued growth before taking the SAT.

Who takes it: Juniors
When: April 15, 2027
Purpose: State assessment and college entrance examination

The SAT is Colorado’s required college entrance assessment for 11th-grade students. It measures student achievement in Reading and Writing and Mathematics and provides an important indicator of college and career readiness.

Unlike many state assessments, the SAT also has direct value for students beyond high school. SAT scores may be used for college admissions, scholarship opportunities, and other postsecondary purposes. SAT performance and student growth are also included in Colorado’s School Performance Framework, which is used to evaluate school performance.

Who takes them: All students
When: Throughout the school year, including beginning- and end-of-year measures
Purpose: Measure learning and growth within individual courses

Standardized assessments provide valuable information, but they cannot measure everything students learn at Ascend. For that reason, instructors also use course-specific assessments to measure student learning and growth within individual classes.

Beginning- and end-of-year assessments allow faculty to examine how much students have learned during the year, including in subjects that are not measured by statewide assessments. These results help teachers evaluate instructional effectiveness, identify areas for curriculum improvement, and make informed decisions about future instruction.

No single test score defines a student at Ascend. Assessment results are considered alongside classroom performance, teacher observations, student work, and other evidence of learning.

Assessment data help us:

• Measure individual student growth over time
• Identify academic strengths and areas where additional support may be needed
• Guide instructional decisions and interventions
• Evaluate the effectiveness of curriculum and instruction
• Prepare students for college-level coursework
• Evaluate schoolwide academic performance and continuous improvement

Our goal is not simply to test students. Our goal is to use meaningful information to help students learn, grow, and leave Ascend prepared for what comes next.