Catholic students in the Diocese of Erie received a well-rounded education in all subject areas. The elementary school curriculum includes instruction in the following:
|
|
Standardized Student Testing
The results are quite clear: students in Catholic schools in the Diocese of Erie score above their counterparts nationwide in all subject areas and all grades. Further, the longer students remain in Catholic schools, the better the achievement exhibited by those students.
Elementary and middle school students currently participate in two forms of diocesan testing: standardized testing and performance-based writing.
Students in grades 2-8 complete the Stanford 10 Achievement Tests that include testing for basic skills as well as skills requiring higher order thinking. Specific test areas include: word study skills, reading vocabulary, reading comprehension, math problem solving, math procedures, spelling, language, science, social science, and listening. Pupils receive a score in each area as well as a composite score. Results of standardized testing are used to improve instructional practices, curriculum and programs for the students.
With Writing Assessment, students respond to on-demand writing prompts throughout the school year. The goals of the writing sample assessment are to:
- Improve the quality of student writing
- Encourage more and different types of writing in diocesan classrooms
- Provide information to help teachers strengthen their writing programs
- Stimulate writing across the curriculum
Diocesan Mathematics Assessments are administered twice a year to all students in first through eighth grades and once a year to students in kindergarten. The diocese uses Exemplars Math Performance Tasks to assess students' problem-solving and communication skills.
Learn more about the Pennsylvania State Standards, including the Writing Standards, on the Pennsylvania Department of Education web site.