This spring, all students will take the Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA) in Math and English Language Arts. Students in Grade 8 will also take the Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS).

The results from these tests will give a more accurate picture of whether students are on track to be ready for college or career. For students in grade 10, the Smarter Balanced or WA-AIM tests can also be used as a graduation pathway. More information is available on the district’s SBA FAQ and Resources page

Our school is scheduled to take the tests on the following dates:

• 8th Grade, Science WCAS testing: Mon 5/8 – Fri 5/12. Testing will take place during students’ Science class.
• All Grades, English Language Arts Testing: Mon 5/15, Tue 5/16, Thu 5/18. Testing will take place in students’ 1st period class, on a modified bell schedule.
• All Grades, Math Testing: Mon 5/22, Tue 5/23. Testing will take place in students’ 1st period class, on a modified bell schedule.

In order to ensure that students receive equal instructional time in all their classes, while we are testing, each day of testing will have a slightly different period layout. Below you will find the bell schedule for each day of testing. A pdf of the schedule is available in the Materials section of the Hamilton Community Bulletin Schoology course.

Students will need wired headphones (3.5mm) for portions of the tests. Hamilton will have some headphones on-hand but will not have enough for every student.

For more information about the Smarter Balanced and WCAS tests visit OSPI’s State Testing page.

You can try out a Smarter Balanced practice test or WCAS training test via the assessment practice test site.

Please call or email: Louis Shoecraft ljshoecraft@seattleschools.org, if you have questions.