SALISBURY TOWNSHIP SCHOOL DISTRICT

Salisbury Middle School would like to take the opportunity to discuss with our families the value of PSSA and Keystone Exam testing and its impact on your child’s education. Students in grades 5-8 will take the Math and ELA PSSA, and students in grade 8 will take the Science PSSA. Students enrolled in 8th grade Algebra I will also take the Keystone Exam. Standardized testing is how our district measures your child's academic progress and ensures they meet academic standards. It allows teachers to identify areas where students may be struggling and provides a basis for developing strategies to help them succeed. Standardized testing provides a way to compare your child's performance to that of other students in their grade level and across the country. This information can be a valuable tool used by schools and districts to measure the effectiveness of their curriculum and teaching methods. The results can help administrators make informed decisions about which programs and strategies are working well and which ones need improvement. 

We understand that standardized testing can be a source of stress for students and parents; however, it is important to remember that these assessments are designed to support student learning and provide valuable information to improve their academic performance. We ask our parents to encourage their children to approach these assessments positively and view them as an opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned. As a parent, you play a critical role in supporting your child's academic success. It is important to provide your child with support and encouragement as they prepare while helping them maintain a healthy perspective on their significance. By encouraging them to do their best and providing them with the resources and support they need, you can help set them up for a successful academic future. 

Here are the assessment dates for students at SMS:

You can help your child prepare for the assessment by encouraging them to get plenty of sleep each night and providing them with a good breakfast on the morning of each assessment. Students may bring a snack, juice, or bottled water to school during testing days.  Attendance is important; educational trips are highly discouraged during testing.

Thank you for your continued commitment to learning at Salisbury Middle School.