CAASPP results are out, providing key insights into your child’s academic progress in English Language Arts, Math, and Science. This blog covers how to easily access, interpret, and leverage CAASPP reports, highlighting achievement levels, score benchmarks, and actionable insights for parents. Download the latest CAASPP percentile data, evaluate your child’s overall performance, and explore whether Math Acceleration is the right step forward by scheduling a free Think Academy evaluation today!

What is CAASPP?

The California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) is California’s standardized assessment system for public school students. CAASPP evaluates students’ proficiency in critical subjects:

• English Language Arts (ELA)
• Mathematics
• Science (CAST), aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards (Grades 5, 8, and selected high school grades)
• California Alternate Assessments (CAA) for students with cognitive disabilities
• California Spanish Assessment (CSA) for students assessing Spanish reading, writing, and listening skills.

Smarter Balanced Assessments (SBA) are the main assessments for ELA and Mathematics for grades 3-8 and 11, emphasizing critical thinking, analytical writing, and problem-solving skills.

How to Access Your Child’s CAASPP Scores

CAASPP scores are typically available through your child’s school district Parent Portal, such as Aeries, Infinite Campus, or other similar systems. Here’s the general process:

Step-by-Step Process:

1. Log in to the Parent Portal: Visit your school district’s official website, locate the Parent Portal, and log in using your credentials.
2. Navigate to Test Scores Section: Look for sections labeled “Test Scores,” “State Tests,” or specifically “CAASPP Scores.”
3. View or Download Score Reports: You can typically view, download, or print your child’s detailed CAASPP report directly.

Additional Tips:

• District-Specific Instructions: District websites often provide specific instructions or direct links for CAASPP results.
• Contact Your Child’s School: If you encounter difficulty online, contact your child’s school to request printed copies or assistance.

A Quick Guide to Understanding Your Child’s CAASPP Score Report

CAASPP report provides essential insights into your child’s academic performance in English Language Arts (ELA), Mathematics, and Science.

Key Sections to Understand:

• Overall Achievement Levels: Indicates if your child meets, exceeds, or is approaching grade-level standards.
  • Achievement Levels:
    • Level 4: Standard Exceeded
    • Level 3: Standard Met
    • Level 2: Standard Nearly Met
    • Level 1: Standard Not Met
  • Typically, the score ranges between 2000-3000, with around 2500 being the threshold for meeting standards. Scores dynamically shift annually based on student performance distributions.
• Subject-Specific Scores and History: Shows current-year performance and trends over time, revealing progress or areas needing improvement.
• Detailed Performance Areas: Highlights your child’s strengths and weaknesses within each subject, helping to identify specific skills for further support.
• Essay and Skill Measures (Lexile and Quantile): Provides deeper insights into your child’s writing abilities and readiness in reading and mathematics.
• Comparative Analysis: Compares your child’s scores to school and state averages, offering context on their overall academic standing.

By reviewing this report, parents can clearly identify their child’s strengths, recognize areas for growth, and collaborate effectively with teachers to support continuous academic development.

Click to download a complete report sample.

How to understand the performance in school level

• To understand your child’s CAASPP performance compared to the school average:
• Visit the Education Data Partnership website.
• Select your County, District, and School Name from the provided dropdown menus.
• Scroll down to the Performance section.
• Review historical data and CAASPP proficiency percentages to compare your child’s performance.

This data will help you gauge your child’s performance within the context of their school, providing deeper insights for targeted academic support.

What Do the Achievement Levels Mean for Future Academic Success?

Detailed descriptors for each level provide insights into how well a student has mastered required skills:

• Grades 3-5: “Standard Exceeded” indicates mastery essential for future academic success.
• Grades 6-8: Exceeding standards shows readiness for success in high-school-level coursework and entry-level college classes.
• Grade 11: Achieving “Standard Exceeded” implies readiness for high school graduation and foundational college coursework.

“Standard Met” (Level 3) signifies meeting the California public school grade-level requirements, crucial for moving onto the next academic stage.

Recent Trends in CAASPP Scores

CAASPP scale score distributions vary annually, reflecting shifts in curriculum rigor and student proficiency. Recent data (2018–2024) reveals notable trends, including a significant decline in overall CAASPP scores and a reduced percentage of students achieving the “Exceeded Standard” level during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 2021, English Language Arts (ELA) performance has largely stabilized, while Math scores at the Exceeded Standard level have gradually improved.

*Data from 2019–2020 is not available due to the suspension of testing during the pandemic.

Click to Download detailed 2018-2024 CAASPP percentile data

CAASPP’s Broader Impact

1. College Readiness Benchmark: CAASPP scores can serve as indicators of a student’s preparedness for college-level coursework. Some universities may consider these scores during the admissions process or for course placement decisions, particularly for California State Universities (CSU).
2. Instructional Improvement: Teachers and curriculum planners use CAASPP data to adjust and optimize their teaching strategies and course content, ensuring educational programs effectively meet students’ learning needs.
3. School Funding and Resource Allocation: CAASPP results influence funding distribution and resource allocation decisions by providing a clear measure of school and district performance, guiding budgetary priorities and educational investments.
4. Advanced Placement and Acceleration Opportunities: In Bay Area school districts such as Saratoga and Mountain View, students achieving Level 4 (“Standard Exceeded”) on their CAASPP assessments may be recommended for placement tests that can lead to accelerated courses or advanced learning tracks.

How to Use CAASPP Results to Support Your Child

CAASPP provides crucial insights into your child’s academic abilities, allowing parents and educators to:

• Identify Strengths and Weaknesses: Tailor academic support and enrichment based on specific areas highlighted in the detailed claims section of the report.
• Teacher Collaboration: Teachers adjust and optimize teaching methods and curriculum content based on CAASPP data to better meet student learning needs.
• Planning Educational Pathways: Some districts, especially in high-performing areas like Saratoga and Mountain View, use CAASPP Level 4 results to recommend students for accelerated courses or placement tests.

Next Steps After CAASPP Results: Accelerate Your Child’s Math Learning

Your child’s CAASPP results offer valuable insights for future academic planning.

• If your child has achieved Level 4 (Standard Exceeded), they’re among the top 20% in California, indicating readiness for advanced math classes and competitive opportunities.
• Students at Level 3 (Standard Met) are meeting grade-level standards, making this the ideal moment to pinpoint strengths and address gaps, leading to substantial growth.
• Even if your child scored at Level 1 or 2, identifying foundational gaps or learning habits can swiftly boost their performance.

Why Accelerate?

Early math acceleration boosts confidence, develops critical thinking, and positions students for success in advanced classes, prestigious competitions, and selective private schools.

Get Started Today: Complimentary Math Evaluation from Think Academy

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• Rising Grade 4 Students: Take our Grade 4 readiness evaluation to assess your child’s math skills and readiness.
• Rising Grade 5 or 6 Students: Consider both Grade 5 and Pre-Algebra evaluations, as math progression varies across schools.
• Incoming Middle School Students: Pre-Algebra readiness evaluation is essential for placement and future math track decisions.

Each readiness test takes approximately 50–60 minutes. After completion, you’ll receive personalized 1-on-1 feedback from Think Academy academic advisors, clearly identifying your child’s strengths, pinpointing areas for improvement, and recommending the most appropriate math learning pathway for long-term academic success.

• Incoming G4 (50mins)
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• Pre-Algebra (60mins)

Let’s unlock their full potential, together.

CAASPP FAQs

• Who takes the CAASPP tests?
  • Students in grades 3–8 and grade 11 primarily take the CAASPP assessments.
• Is participation mandatory in public schools?
  • Yes. Participation in standard assessments like the Smarter Balanced Assessments (SBA) and California Science Test (CAST) is required. Students with special education needs typically take the California Alternate Assessments (CAA).
• When are CAASPP tests administered?
  • The assessments are usually given in spring, from March to May each year.
• Do students need to register individually for CAASPP tests?
  • No. Schools handle the scheduling, organization, and administration of CAASPP testing.
• Do CAASPP results directly influence grades or promotion?
  • No. The CAASPP tests are primarily used as diagnostic tools to measure academic progress and guide learning support, not for grading or promotion decisions.
• What is considered a good CAASPP score?
  • A “good” CAASPP score typically refers to achieving Level 3 (Standard Met) or Level 4 (Standard Exceeded). These levels indicate that students meet or surpass grade-level standards. To better understand scores and performance levels, download the 2023–2024 percentile data for detailed reference.

About Think Academy

Think Academy, a leading K–12 math education provider wholly owned by TAL Education Group, is dedicated to helping students build strong mathematical foundations and critical thinking. Our structured curriculum provides multiple course levels designed to accommodate students with diverse academic goals and proficiency levels, ensuring targeted and effective learning experiences. Supported by advanced teaching methods, expert instructors, and innovative AI technology, Think Academy consistently demonstrates excellence, trustworthiness, and proven expertise in mathematics education.

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