Feedback and Testing
Feedback
In the Lower School, the academic year is divided into three trimesters. Progress reports are electronically made available to parents at the end of each trimester. Student progress is reviewed at Parent Teacher Conference Days held in December and March. Parent communication is an integral part of the academic program at Staten Island Academy. Parents are encouraged to contact teachers about their child’s progress.
Tests & Standards
The Academy is proud to be an independent school. We recognize, however, that this designation often comes with some confusion around the standardized tests that we administer. Lower School students in Grades 2, 3 and 4 take the Comprehensive Testing Program (CTP 4) examination. This test is administered by the Educational Records Bureau and ranks student achievement on a national scale. It is given in almost all independent schools and in some New York area suburban public schools.
A Special Note
Although our children perform above average on standardized testing, we see daily assessments as an extremely important component when viewing the whole child. Our classroom standards are high because we believe that a fine learning environment must exude high expectations, which are nurtured through discussion, clarity and modeling from experienced faculty. We believe that deep, meaningful instruction and thoughtful curriculum is the best form of test preparation.