No matter what school or education system students are a part of, there has always been an element of standardized testing. Most current high school students have had to take the ISTEP tests throughout elementary school, intermediate and junior high.

Until just this past year, FHS has utilized the ECA (End of Course Assessment) tests.

“The ECA consisted of two parts in both English and Algebra and were given in May. The new ISTEP contains multiple sections that vary in number and length each year. Additionally, there are two Parts to the ISTEP,” Academic Dean Lydia Conley said.

Because of this change in the length of the tests the school has created an adjusted schedule to allow time for the sophomores to take the ISTEP tests during their English classes.

“The new adjusted schedule lengthens classes to 74 minutes which allows students plenty of time to get logged in and take the test without feeling rushed,” Conley said.

The school made these changes to allow for the school measure accountability and student proficiency in the particular areas of testing. The test also serves as the state’s graduation qualifying exam, meaning that a student cannot graduate unless they have passed these tests.

The dates of the 2017 exam schedule are Feb. 27 – March. 10 and  April. 17 – May. 5.