This spring, the junior students at Southern Lehigh are aiming for peak performance on one of the most time consuming assessments in the state: the Pennsylvania System of School Assessments (PSSAs).

The PSSA standards identify the material that students should understand and be able to apply at varying grade levels. Individual school districts have the freedom to design their own curriculum and instruction to ensure that students meet or exceed these expectations. These assessments primarily indicate the degree to which school programs enable students to obtain proficiency of the standards.

Junior year is undoubtedly the most challenging and demanding year for high school students. These young individuals are bombarded with the stress of rigorous homework and testing, SAT tests, AP exams, and college preparation. The juniors are generally relieved of some of these stressors in the days when they are taking the PSSAs.

PSSA testing for students in eleventh grade consists of reading, math, writing, and science sections. The school allots several days at a time for students to complete the separate portions. Because of the length of the test, students spend the first four periods of the day testing, and the remaining periods in class. There is an unlimited amount of time to take the exams, and everyone is encouraged to perform their best.

Southern Lehigh High School is striving to obtain high scores on this year’s PSSAs in order to meet the higher qualifications for Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). Defined by the US Government’s No Child Left Behind Act, AYP is a measurement that allows the US Department of Education to determine how every public school is performing academically based on standardized results. Because juniors are not penalized by poor performance in college admissions, and receive no academic grade for the exam, they have little incentive to take the test seriously. Southern Lehigh administration has taken great measures to not only prepare students, but to motivate them as well.

During class time, specifically in math and English courses, teachers have been focusing on PSSA format in preparation for the exams. Students are taught what to expect on the tests, as well as what the graders are looking for to award points. For many students, the material is unfamiliar to them, or was covered in previous years. Teachers work with every student, whether it is re-familiarizing them with the information, or introducing it to them for the first time.

Math teacher Mr. Ryan Haupt helped to organize a PSSA “bootcamp” in the days prior to the exams. Students in typically junior classes such as Pre-Calculus, College Algebra, and Algebra 2 were mandated to participate in these exercises. Mr. Haupt commented on the practicality of the preparatory exercises by stating, “We show students how the PSSAs are graded and specifically the guidelines as to how to answer the open-ended questions and maximize their scores.”

The juniors completed their first three days of PSSA testing March 13 through March 15. During this time period, the math and English portions were administered. The testing atmosphere was relaxed and students were offered water and a light snack between exams. To reward the students for their perseverance and determination, juniors were permitted to enjoy their lunches on the patio outside the cafeteria.

Student Molly Carney reflected on her first testing section of the PSSAs by stating, “I felt most compelled to do my best because I knew that it was a reflection on our school as a whole, and I wanted to know I put my best foot forward for all the teachers I was representing.”

The juniors are expected to complete PSSA testing in writing and science during the month of April. While the assessments may not represent the most exciting material, students are encouraged to do well to positively reflect their own academic achievement and the strong curriculum at Southern Lehigh High School.

Results from the exams will be available during late summer. Southern Lehigh students, parents, and administrators are eager to discover how the newly instituted PSSA preparatory programs have impacted test scores.

Principal Christine Siegfried commented, “We are very impressed by our juniors and how receptive they were to the boot camp and the efforts they put forth during the testing sessions.  We are very anxious to see how our students performed and hope to recognize everyone's efforts if we meet AYP.”

Good luck juniors, and hang in there.