Humanities Preparatory Academy
Assessment
|
|
Philosophy
At Humanities Prep, performance-based assessments (i.e., exhibitions and portfolios) are used to evaluate student achievement and are integral to both course promotion and school graduation. All assessments are used to constructively enhance each student's learning process, and each measure is aligned to reflect the school's core competencies and standards. Student performance data is collected, disaggregated, and analyzed by race, class, and other categories to evaluate patterns of success and behaviors within the school. New instructional and structural strategies are then implemented based on this analysis.
Achievements
Each term at Humanities Prep, fifteen to thirty teachers, professionals, and outside educators evaluate student work on Performance Based Assessment Task (PBAT) panels, evaluations that include discussions with student authors. On the New York Regents examinations, Humanities students perform well. Among the school's 2003 cohort, 83.3 percent scored above the local passing rate on the English exam, while 73.3 percent eclipsed the minimum score in math. The citywide averages among other New York schools were 72.7% and 66.8%, respectively.
Challenges
Humanities Prep struggles to successfully champion performance-based assessment and portfolios in an era of standardized tests. The culture surrounding the Regents exam is based on information and skills, not reflection and individuality, yet the test is mandatory for all New York students. How can Humanities Prep blend individuality and skills—preparing its students without undermining its mission?
|
|
