Each spring, 8th and 10th grade students at Benton Community Middle/High School participate in the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP) for science. The ISASP is the state’s annual accountability assessment, designed to meet federal requirements under the Every Student Succeeds Act. This assessment measures how well students are progressing toward Iowa’s academic standards by reflecting both classroom instruction and student learning. Results provide valuable insights that help teachers identify strengths and target areas where additional support may be needed.
Unlike the yearly assessments in English Language Arts and mathematics, the science assessment is only administered in select grades, creating gaps between testing opportunities. Despite this, Benton students continue to demonstrate strong performance. In the most recent cycle, 68% of the Class of 2027 met proficiency benchmarks, with a 7% increase in advanced achievement compared to the previous year—outpacing the state average by 2%. Similarly, this year’s freshman class achieved 81% proficiency, well above the state’s average of 70%.
The ISASP science assessment covers a broad range of content, including life science, physical science, and earth and space science. Students are also evaluated on Science and Engineering Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas. Encouragingly, proficiency rates across the state are continuing to rebound, with scores now exceeding pre-pandemic levels as grade-level results rose between 4 and 7 percentage points.