State Testing Information

AASA

The Arizona's Academic Standards Assessment (AASA) is the statewide achievement exam administered each spring to all students in grades 3-8 across Arizona. This assessments is designed to measure how well students have mastered the Arizona English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics Standards.

AASA provides valuable information to teachers, families and schools about student learning and progress. Test results help identify areas of strength as well as areas where students may need additional support. 

• Who takes the test? Students in Grades 3-8
• When is it given? The AASA is given each spring, during the statewide testing window set by the AZ DoE. Check with your school's administration for your school's specific testing dates.
• Subjects tested: English Language Arts (Reading and Writing) and Mathematics.

To help students feel confident and prepared, our school provides practice opportunities for AASA throughout the year. These practice tests allow students to become familiar with the testing format, tools, and types of questions they will encounter.

Our school is committed to preparing students for success on the AASA by providing engaging instruction aligned with Arizona’s academic standards.

For more information about the AASA, please visit the Arizona Department of Education AASA page→

Arizona Civics Test

The American Civics Act requires high school students to correctly answer at least 70 out of 100 questions on the state-mandated civics exam to receive a high school diploma.

At ALA, students will be tested during their 8th grade year, typically in March. Any student who does not pass the assessment in the eighth grade will be given opportunities to re-test in high school. Students will be afforded as many opportunities as necessary to take the exam to receive a passing score.

For information, visit the Arizona Department of Education Civics Test page→

ASVAB

The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is a nationally recognized assessment that measures students’ abilities in areas such as math, reading, science, and technical skills. While the ASVAB is often associated with military enlistment, it is also widely used as a career exploration tool to help students better understand their strengths and connect them with potential career pathways. Students in 11th grade will take the ASVAB, as well as any 12th graders who have not yet taken the test.

Students who take the ASVAB gain access to the ASVAB Career Exploration Program (CEP), which provides personalized feedback and resources for planning future education, or career options in the military, college, or civilian workforce.

For more information, visit our Career Readiness page→

AZELLA

The Arizona English Language Learner Assessment (AZELLA) is a state-mandated test that measures English language proficiency for students whose primary language is not English. The assessment evaluates listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills to ensure students have the language support they need to succeed academically.

At ALA, we follow Arizona's state guidelines when it comes to testing and supporting English Language Learners through the language acquisition process. 

Grades K-6

Students in grades K-6 receive small group instructions from teachers specialized in English language development. This program uses Lexia, an interactive online program that helps to build student’s listening, reading, and writing skills.

Grades 7-12

Students in grades 7-12 participate in a specially-designed online course with additional guidance and instruction from a teacher who specializes in English language development. The course builds skills in:

• Listening
• Speaking
• Reading
• Writing

The course is designed to support students’ acquisition of the English language specifically through discourse practices, grammatical structures, writing, vocabulary, and reading skills necessary for successful participation in academic tasks across the content areas.

Students who have been placed into an English language learner program will also take the Spring AZELLA Reassessment once per year until they achieve proficiency. Students who have scored proficient on the AZELLA are then monitored for two years to help ensure success after their move into a mainstream classroom.

For more details, please visit the Arizona Department of Education AZELLA page→

AzSCI

The Arizona Science Test (AzSCI) is the state-mandated science assessment for students in Grades 5, 8, and 11. The test is aligned to the Arizona Science Standards and is designed to measure how well students understand and can apply key scientific concepts and practices.

The AzSCI is administered each spring during the statewide testing window set by the Arizona Department of Education. It measures student knowledge and application of science standards while helping schools evaluate the effectiveness of their science instruction. Students in Grades 5, 8, and 11 take the test, and results provide valuable information to students, families, and educators about progress in science learning.

Preparation at Our School
Our school integrates the Arizona Science Standards into classroom instruction at all grade levels. To help students feel confident and prepared, we also offer optional practice tests during the school year. Through hands-on investigations, critical thinking activities, and real-world problem-solving, students build the skills needed to demonstrate their learning on the AzSCI and develop a strong foundation in science.

For information, visit the Arizona Department of Education AzSCI page→

Testing for Gifted Program at ALA

American Leadership Academy uses the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT), a widely-used, state-approved assessment to assess specific reasoning skills in areas that strongly correlate to academic success. The CogAT consists of three areas:

Verbal - Used to assess a student's vocabulary, efficiency and verbal memory, ability to determine word relationships, and the ability to comprehend ideas.

Quantitative - Used to assess a student's quantitative reasoning, problem solving abilities, and abstract reasoning.

Non-Verbal - Used to assess a student's reasoning abilities through the use of spatial and figural content.

CogAT Info for Parents

For more information regarding ALA's Gifted Program, visit our Gifted Education page→