Student Testing
Testing Coordinators
- Assistant Principal, ES
Nicole Scher is originally from Shoreham, New York, and moved to Virginia to attend George Mason University for her Bachelor Degree in Music Education, with a minor in Spanish. She began her career in Fairfax County as an elementary orchestra teacher at Bailey’s Elementary School for the Arts and Sciences, and Belvedere Elementary School. Later, she became full time at Bailey’s Upper Elementary School for the Arts and Sciences, teaching 3rd grade violin to all students as part of the magnet program, as well as 4th and 5th grade orchestra. Ms. Scher returned to George Mason University to obtain her Master Degree in Education, with a focus in Curriculum and Instruction, and later a Master Degree in Education Leadership. She transitioned to Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) Resource Teacher at Bailey’s Upper Elementary School, and then became Assistant Principal at Annandale Terrace Elementary School. Ms. Scher is starting her second full year as Assistant Principal at Annandale Terrace Elementary School.
Ms. Scher believes in the importance of a variety of educational opportunities for all students, and is committed to doing what is best for students. She has served as a mentor teacher and Great Beginnings Coach to support new teachers and help them grow as educators.
When not at school, Ms. Scher enjoys traveling, reading, running, watching baseball, and spending time with her husband and two cats. She is also a classically trained violinist, and enjoys playing in local community groups.
Students at Annandale Terrace ES are tested in many areas throughout the year as a part of the teaching and learning cycle. Tests provide information about a child's development of knowledge and help teachers better plan for next steps in instruction.
The FCPS Grade Level Tests webpage (see link below) offers testing information for each grade level including:
- Purpose of test,
- Time of year when test is typically scheduled, and
- Estimated amount of time student will need to take test.
SOL Testing
The state of Virginia has established achievement tests that are administered at the end of 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th grades to measure the mastery of curriculum. The Standards of Learning Tests (SOLs) test students in the areas of reading, writing, math, history and science. Please plan around the dates that will be scheduled so that your child is available during the testing time frame.
- Grade 3 – Math and Reading
- Grade 4 – Math, Reading, and VA History
- Grade 5 – Math, Reading, and Science
- Grade 6 – Math and Reading
Universal Screener
Recently, FCPS adopted a universal screener assessment for use with all elementary school students in kindergarten through grade 6.
The purpose of this assessment is to identify students who may have gaps in reading and math skills so that teachers can plan supports appropriate for each child.
The universal screener is an online, computer-adaptive assessment. Computer-adaptive means that the difficulty of questions will adjust based on each child’s performance. When your child gets a question correct, the next question will be a little harder. When your child gets a question wrong, the next question will be a little easier. Through this adjustment process, the computer will narrow in on just the right level for your child.
The universal screener tests will be given three times each year. For the exact dates when your child will test, please contact your child’s teacher. After each testing window, your child’s teacher will share your child’s universal screener results with you.