Testing

• AP Testing
• CAASPP - The California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress - This state testing happens once a year for all 11th and 12th grade students and English Language Learner (ELL) students.
  • SBAC - Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (11th)
  • CAST - California Science Test (12th)
  • ELPAC - English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELL)

2026 CAASPP Testing Information

Parents of Juniors and Seniors,

An important part of your student’s academic program is measuring progress through the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) assessments.  Poway High School will be administering these assessments in March and April.   Testing Bell Schedule TBA.

It is important for your student to take the test because:

• Poway High School uses the data to analyze the success of certain courses.

• We were ranked in the top ten High Schools in Southern California.

• If less than 95% of students take the test, our scores are invalidated, and we are not ranked.  Seniors this year were affected by our lack of ranking.

• Juniors who take the test will be seniors next year, and having a good school ranking is favorable.

• We do not look at individual scores at Poway High, but if your student scores well, the scores can be added to their college resume.

Juniors will be taking the SBAC test. The SBAC consists of English and Math testing.

Seniors will be taking the CAST.  

Pursuant to California Education Code Section 60615, parents/guardians may annually submit to the school a written request to excuse their child from any or all of the CAASPP assessments.

We could use your partnership in creating a positive testing experience for your student by considering the following information:

1. Please review the testing schedule and limit school-day appointments during the testing period.

2. Earbuds/headphones are needed for the SBAC test. It is best to test using wired, not Bluetooth, earbuds/headphones. Earbuds will be available for those who did not bring their own.

3. SBAC scores can be used to determine the readiness of a student to take college-level general education written and math/quantitative reasoning courses before attending a California State University (CSU), or one of the participating California Community Colleges. Please encourage your child to select yes when prompted to participate in the Early Assessment Program (EAP). Please note that SBAC scores are not used to determine college admissions. Click here for more information.

4. Encourage your child to get a good sleep and a healthy breakfast.

5. Remind your child to show Titan Pride and test their best!

Parents of Juniors, you will receive your child’s results at or before the beginning of the next school year. The results will identify where your child is doing well or needs more help, so you can better support their learning at home and teachers can better support their learning in the classroom.

We appreciate your support of the testing process. You can find more information on state testing on the CA state CAASPP webpage.  If you have questions, you may contact Ms. Cindy Lewis, Assistant Principal at (858)748-0245 ext. 5104 or at [email protected].

Thank you! Good luck, Juniors and Seniors!

College Entrance Testing Information

• SAT Student Guide to Practice and Scores
• Registration and Test Day Checklist
• SAT Rights and Responsibilities - Students

The PSAT test will be administered on October 11, 2025.

• PSAT/NMSQT and PSAT 10
• Students will need to bring two #2 pencils and a College Board-approved calculator to the exam. Students who are testing will need to show a valid ID.