High School placement test — a tool to set students up for success

Diocesan high schools in the Diocese of Covington use high school placement tests to determine appropriate class levels for incoming freshmen. The tests, which were administered on Dec. 12, serve as a reference for schools to assess student readiness rather than as an admission requirement.

Kendra McGuire, superintendent of Catholic schools, said the results help schools identify which classes will best support student success. Because high schools offer different class levels and academic plans, the scores allow teachers to differentiate instruction based on a student's ability to handle specific levels of rigor or pace.

The assessment measures skills in five areas: verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, reading comprehension, mathematics, and language arts. High schools use these scores to place students in the specific academic tracks that match their current abilities.