Assessments
Assessments help the Steamboat Springs School District understand how students are learning, where they are growing, and where additional support may be needed. No single assessment tells the full story of a student. Families, teachers, and schools should view assessment results alongside classroom work, grades, teacher feedback, and other measures of student progress.
The district uses a variety of assessment tools to support student learning, improve instruction, and help ensure students are meeting Colorado Academic Standards.
Why Assessments Matter
Assessments help:
- Identify student strengths and areas for growth
- Monitor progress toward Colorado Academic Standards
- Inform instruction and school improvement
- Provide families with information about student learning
- Support college and career readiness
- Give schools, districts, and the state a shared picture of student performance
Assessment results provide valuable information that helps schools and teachers strengthen instruction, identify learning gaps, and better support students.
CMAS scores and other state assessments are one data point and should be viewed alongside classroom grades and teacher feedback for a more complete picture of student progress.
How Results Are Used
Assessment results help schools and the district:
- Review student progress
- Identify strengths and learning gaps
- Improve curriculum and instruction
- Plan professional learning for educators
- Monitor growth over time
- Ensure students have access to high-quality instruction
Assessment data also helps families better understand their student’s academic progress and supports conversations between families and schools about learning and growth.
Resources for Families
Colorado Family Portal
https://familyportal.pearson.com/CO
CDE Assessment Fact Sheets and FAQs
https://www.cde.state.co.us/communications/factsheetsandfaqs-assessment
CDE Resources for Parents
https://cde.state.co.us/communications/resourcesforparents
CDE PSAT/SAT Information
https://ed.cde.state.co.us/assessment/sat-psat
Assessments by Grade Level
State Assessments
Colorado students participate in required state assessments at different grade levels.
CMAS
The Colorado Measures of Academic Success, or CMAS, measures student progress toward the Colorado Academic Standards.
CMAS is administered to students in:
- Grades 3-8: English language arts and math
- Grades 5, 8, and 11: Science
- Selected grades: Social studies
CMAS is developed for Colorado students and aligned to what students are expected to know and be able to do at each grade level. Colorado educators help develop and review CMAS questions to ensure assessments are relevant and instruction-focused.
Families can access CMAS results through the Colorado Family Portal.
Family Portal: https://familyportal.pearson.com/CO
To log in, families need:
- Student State ID (SASID)
- Student's first and last name
- Student's date of birth
The Family Portal includes:
- Overall scores and performance levels
- Areas of strength and growth
- Peer comparisons
- Video score reports
- Resources to help families understand results
- Previous years’ results
PSAT and SAT
Colorado students take the PSAT and SAT as part of the state assessment system.
The PSAT and SAT help students understand their readiness for postsecondary opportunities and build a pathway from practice to college entrance testing. The SAT is accepted by colleges and universities across the country, and students can use scores for college admission, placement, scholarship opportunities, and meeting graduation requirements.
The assessments also provide students with personalized feedback in Reading & Writing and Math, while helping schools and districts better support student learning.
CDE PSAT/SAT Scores and Information: https://ed.cde.state.co.us/assessment/sat-psat