High Schools Should Not Rely On Standard

Achievement Scores Essay, Research Paper

High Schools Should not use Standardized Achievement Scores to Determine

Whether Students Should be Promoted, Without Regard to Course Grades

High schools should not use standardized achievement test scores to determine whether

students should be promoted, without regard to course grades. The major reasons that high

schools should not use standardized test scores to determine whether students should be

promoted, without regard to course grades are learning disorders, memory disorders, and

controversy.

One reason that high schools should not use standardized achievement test scores to

determine whether students should be promoted, without regard to course grades is learning

disorders. One case history of a learning disorder is Attention-Deficit Disorder. For instance,

students that have Attention-Deficit Disorder cannot concentrate if there is anything else going

on in the room. Another case history of a learning disorder is Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity

Disorder. For instance, a student that has Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder can not sit still

for long periods of time.

A second reason that high schools should not use standardized achievement test scores to

determine whether students should be promoted, without regard to course grades is memory

disorders. One instance of memory disorders is short-term memory. For instance, a student that

has short-term memory only memorizes information for about a hour. Another instance of

memory disorder is long-term memory disorders. For instance, a student that has a long-term

memory disorder can not sort through their long-term memory for information they learned at the

first of the school year.

A third reason that high schools should not use standardized achievement test scores to

determine whether students should be promoted, without regard of course grades is

controversies. One instance of controversy is teaching the test. For instance, teachers teach only

the materials that are likely to be on the test instead of providing a comprehensive education.

Another instance of controversy is the test do not accurately assess the performance of all

students. For instance, the test does not account for the differences in social and economic

backgrounds.

Learning disorders, memory disorders, and controversy are only a few reasons high

schools should not use standardized achievement test scores to determine whether students

should be promoted, without regard to course grades.