Accountability & Testing December 25
Accountability Department
Understanding School Performance Scores and What They Mean for Our Community
Angela C.Robinson - Director of Accountability
As part of Louisiana’s accountability system, every public school receives a School Performance Score (SPS) each year. The SPS provides a snapshot of how well a school is serving its students academically, combining measures such as student achievement on state assessments, academic growth, graduation rates, and participation in college- and career-ready programs. This score helps families, educators, and community members understand both student performance and school progress.
While SPS is an important indicator, it’s only one part of the story. Growth measures show how much students are improving over time, regardless of their starting point. High achievement matters, but consistent growth demonstrates that instruction is meeting the needs of all learners. By considering both achievement and growth, SPS offers a fuller picture of how our school supports every student’s success.
What’s Changing Next Year?
Beginning in 2025–2026, Louisiana will implement the Grow. Achieve. Thrive. accountability model. This new system will measure schools across three key areas:
Student Growth – How much progress students make year over year
Achievement – Performance on LEAP and other state assessments
Readiness – Indicators of college, career, and life readiness
These changes emphasize preparing students for success beyond graduation while maintaining strong academic foundations. Learn more about the new accountability model here.
Helping Your Child Succeed on LEAP 2025
Parents play a vital role in supporting academic success. Here are some helpful resources:
Louisiana Department of Education Family Support Toolbox: https://www.louisianabelieves.com/resources/library/family-support-toolbox
LEAP Practice Tests: https://www.louisianabelieves.com/resources/library/practice-tests
Khan Academy for Math & Reading Skills: https://www.khanacademy.org
Homework Help & Study Tips: Encourage daily reading, review class notes, and use online tools like Quizlet for vocabulary and concepts.
If you have questions about our school’s SPS or how it is calculated, please contact Angela Carter-Robinson at angela_robinson@sulabschool.com or call 225-771-5249.
Upcoming Middle-of-Year Literacy and Numeracy Screeners: K–3 Students
As we approach the middle of the school year, K–3 students will begin taking the Middle-of-Year (MOY) Literacy and Numeracy Screeners. These assessments help teachers track each child’s progress toward end-of-year learning goals and ensure students are on track for academic success.
The DIBELS literacy screener measures early reading skills, including letter naming, phonemic awareness, decoding nonsense words, and oral reading fluency. The Numeracy Screener assesses key math skills such as number recognition, counting, addition and subtraction, and understanding number relationships. Both screeners are administered individually to provide an accurate view of each student’s growth.
Important for 3rd Grade Families: Louisiana requires students to score above the "Well Below" level on the end-of-year literacy screener to be promoted to 4th grade. Students have three opportunities to meet this standard: April, end of May, and after optional summer learning. Students who do not meet the benchmark may be retained.
We appreciate your partnership in supporting your child’s learning. Encourage reading at home and practicing basic math skills to reinforce classroom learning. For questions, contact Angela Carter-Robinson at angela_robinson@sulabschool.com or 771-5249.
PSAT Score Reports
We are pleased to share that PSAT 8/9 and PSAT/NMSQT score reports have now been distributed to students. These assessments, provided by the College Board, are valuable tools that help measure students’ college and career readiness and provide insight into their academic strengths and areas for growth.
PSAT scores are diagnostic tools, not final grades or admissions criteria. They can help identify academic strengths and areas for improvement, inform future course selection, and provide early insight into college readiness and potential career pathways.
For 10th and 11th graders, PSAT/NMSQT scores also serve as the qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship Program, an academic recognition and scholarship opportunity for top performers nationwide.
Here are some next steps to get the most out of your student’s PSAT Scores-
Review the Report Together: Sit down with your student to discuss their strengths and opportunities for growth.
Set Goals: Use the score data to plan for improvement before the next testing opportunity.
Use Resources: Encourage your student to log in to their College Board account to view their full online report, access skills feedback, and start personalized practice at https://www.khanacademy.org/sat.
Plan Ahead: Students who continue to engage in targeted practice often show meaningful growth from one assessment to the next.
