Several Big Spring students say that their junior year is the hardest and most important year in their high school career.  Because of all of the additional testing, it puts pressure on juniors.

            For students who plan on attending college or going into the military, additonal testing is mandatory. Juniors already are required to take the MAPS and the PSSA testing, but if they plan on continuing on after high school they can take the PSATs, SATs, ACTs, SAT2s, ASVAB and also AP testing.

            Several juniors were interviewed and said they feel a lot of pressure from so many tests. Scholarships and financial aid are all partially weighted on testing. High school Guidance Counselor Jocelyn Kraus said that juniors have to take so much testing because by their senior year, most students already know what they are planning on doing after graduating. She said there would be no time to “cram in” all of this testing their twelfth grade year.

            Although grades, sports and essays are important to college admission, testing is still a large portion of what schools look into. “Testing is a big piece of the puzzle” said Kraus. The student testing affects his or her college acceptances. Kraus explained that we are almost to the point where the testing is too much, and that colleges are beginning to realize it. Some schools are starting to be test optional. Kraus said that not everyone takes tests well, and that she thinks that the future Keystone testing is just pushing it.

            “Retention rates” said Kraus “should not be affected by the testing.” Retention rates are the percentage of students who finish their high school career. She said retention rates are usually due to pressure from grades and stress. Students who drop out are usually not advanced academically, and would not take all of the testing that is not mandatory.  Students who put effort into their work would not typically drop out, and would be taking the testing. Therefore, testing would not be a reason for students to drop out and they would not be a factor in the retention rates.

            Current Big Spring High School Junior Cody Dick said he does not feel that the testing is necessary, and that it does not help. He said that personally, he takes the PSSA testing seriously, but the MAPS testing he does not.  Dick also said that he feels that the school’s purpose of the testing is to “bring money to the school.”