Assessment

Dana Cole
Coordinator of Assessment
[email protected]

The Office of Assessment oversees all assessment administration for Lynchburg City Schools (K-12). Our office ensures that all federal, state, and local testing guidelines are in compliance. We provide training to testing staff to ensure all testing security procedures are in place at each school site.

Lynchburg City Schools does Performance Assessment for grades two through eight throughout the year. These assessments build critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration skills. They are fully aligned to the cognitive level of the Standards of Learning and provide students with a rich learning experience.

Diagnostic Reading Assessment (DRA): 1st-5th grade
Phonological Awareness and Literacy Screening (PALS): K-3rd grade
Naglieri-Gifted reasoning assessment: 1st grade
Stanford 10-Stanford achievement test: 2nd grade
ACCESS for English Language Learners
Standards of Learning (SOL): 3rd -12th grade
​​​Piloted Integrated Reading & Writing SOL: 5th, 8th, and 11th grade
Virginia Alternative Assessment Program (VAAP)
Advanced Placement Testing through College Board (AP)

The Standards of Learning (SOL) for Virginia Public Schools establish minimum expectations for what students should know and be able to do at the end of each grade or course in English, mathematics, science, history/social science and other subjects.

SOL tests in reading, writing, mathematics, science and history/social science measure the success of students in meeting the Board of Education’s expectations for learning and achievement. All items on SOL tests are reviewed by Virginia classroom teachers for accuracy and fairness and teachers also assist the state Board of Education in setting proficiency standards for the tests. (VDOE)

The administration of Standards of Learning (SOL) assessments is a cooperative effort involving the VDOE and educators and administrators in the commonwealth’s 132 school divisions. Key division-level and school-level personnel include:

Division Director of Testing – The Division Director of Testing (DDOT) serves as the point of contact between the school division and VDOE. The DDOT has division-wide responsibility for implementation of SOL test procedures. School Test Coordinators (STC) are responsible for implementing SOL testing in their assigned school building and work closely with the DDOT. (VDOE)

Lynchburg City Schools Schedule of Testing for Standards of Learning Assessments (SOL)

Elementary Grades 3-5	Middle School 6-8	High School 9-12
Grade 3 Reading Mathematics	Grade 6 Reading  Mathematics	End of Course English 10 Writing (Required by all students) English 11 Reading (Required by all students) Algebra 1 (Required by all students) Algebra 2 Geometry World Geography World History 1 World History 2 Virginia and US History Earth Science Biology (Required by all students) Chemistry
Grade 4 Reading  Mathematics	Grade 7 Reading  Mathematics
Grade 5 Reading  Mathematics Virginia Studies Science	Grade 8 Reading  Mathematics Science  Civics & Economics Writing
*Advanced students may test in 6th Grade Math	Students enrolled in High School credit classes will take the associated End of Course SOL test	Students will test in the associated class until they meet their required verified credits. Federal testing requirements require each High School student to take Reading, Algebra 1, and Biology end of course tests.    Rev. 9/2018

Test Dates for 2022-23

Elementary Schools	Middle Schools	High Schools
March 1–April 28 (grades 3-5, VAAP) March 27–31 (grade 5, Integrated Reading & Writing Piloted SOL) April 24–May 19 (grades 3–5, Non-writing SOLs)	March 1–April 28 (grades 6-8, VAAP) March 6–16 (8th grade, Writing SOL) March 27–31 (grade 8, Integrated Reading & Writing Piloted SOL) April 24–May 19 (grades 6–8, Non-writing SOLs)	October 24–28 (EOC & Term Grad Fall Writing SOL) November 14–18 (Term Grad Fall Writing SOL retakes) December 1–15 (Fall Non-Writing SOLs) March 1–April 28 (grades 9-12, VAAP) March 6–16 (grade 10, EOC Writing SOL) March 27–31 (grade 11, EOC Reading - Integrated Reading & Writing Piloted SOL) April 17–June 1 (Term Grad Testing) April 24–May 19 (grades 9-12, Non-writing SOLs)

Please contact your child’s school for more details on specific test dates. These dates are provided for planning purposes and all subject to change. Inclement weather disruptions will be announced through your child’s school. 

Superintendents Memo #142-13

All students enrolled in the Virginia public schools are expected to take the applicable state tests. The Virginia Board of Education Regulations Establishing Standards for Accrediting Public Schools in Virginia state:

"In kindergarten through eighth grade, where the administration of Virginia assessment program tests are required by the Board of Education, each student shall be expected to take the tests" and "each student in middle and secondary schools shall take all applicable end-of-course SOL tests following course instruction" (p. 9).

The regulations do not provide for what is sometimes referred to as an "opt-out policy" for students regarding the Virginia assessments. If, however, parents refuse to have their student participate in one or more of the required Virginia assessments, then they should contact the school in writing of their desire to refuse to test.