Assessments
At Fowlerville Community Schools, we use assessments to understand how well students are learning and to guide their instruction. These tests help teachers identify areas where students are excelling and where they might need more support. Our goal is to ensure every child is on the right track for success.
iReady
iReady:
i-Ready is FCS’s local assessment tool used to understand student strengths, needs, and academic growth in reading and mathematics. FCS students take i-Ready three times each year, and staff use the results to adjust and inform instruction throughout the school year.
i-Ready data is closely monitored by teachers, interventionists, building teams, and district leaders. The reports help staff identify students who need additional support, determine which skills should be retaught or extended, and monitor whether students are making expected progress. i-Ready also connects directly to FCS’s instructional resources, including Magnetic Literacy and i-Ready Classroom Mathematics, giving teachers reports they can use to modify, reinforce, and extend classroom instruction. i-Ready includes K–12 assessment tools and reporting designed to help educators understand what students know and what to do next.
Growth Data:
Growth data shows how much academic progress a student makes over time. Instead of only looking at whether a student is on grade level at one point in the year, growth data helps FCS understand whether students are improving, closing gaps, and moving toward grade-level expectations.
This information is important because i-Ready growth trends can help serve as an early indicator of how students are progressing toward the skills measured on state assessments such as M-STEP. i-Ready is not a replacement for M-STEP, but because both provide information about reading and math performance, FCS uses i-Ready data throughout the year to make instructional adjustments before students take state assessments in the spring.
M-STEP
M-STEP stands for Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress. It is Michigan’s state assessment used to measure student progress toward Michigan’s academic standards. M-STEP results, along with i-Ready data, classroom work, grades, and teacher observations, help provide a broader picture of student achievement. Michigan administers M-STEP in grades 3–8 and 11.
PSAT
The PSAT is a College Board assessment used in Michigan for students in grades 8, 9, and 10. It measures skills in English language arts and mathematics and helps students, families, and schools understand academic readiness as students move through middle school and high school. FCS uses PSAT data, along with i-Ready, grades, and classroom performance, to monitor student progress and identify academic support needs.
SAT
The SAT is taken by Michigan students in grade 11 as part of the Michigan Merit Examination. It measures college- and career-readiness skills in reading, writing, and mathematics. SAT results are also one piece of the district’s larger academic data system, helping FCS review long-term trends and prepare students for graduation, postsecondary learning, and future career opportunities.
