Student Support Program
Dunwoody Christian School is committed to providing the best academic program for our students. Part of our educational program is our Student Support Program. Designed to help students who may struggle with Reading or Mathematics and students who excel in one or both subject areas, the DCS Student Support Program begins with utilizing standardized tests to help identify students who may qualify to participate in the program.
In addition, DCS utilizes the following direct support screening regimes to help identify specific areas of Reading and Mathematics that students may benefit from by participating in a direct support program.
DCS screening regimes include:
Fountas and Pinnell
The Fountas & Pinnell Benchmark Assessment Systems provide teachers with precise tools and texts to observe and quantify specific reading behaviors and then interpret and use that data to plan meaningful instruction. Each assessment enables teachers to determine students' instructional and independent reading levels.
Phonological Assessment of Code Knowledge
The purpose of the Phonological Assessment of Code Knowledge (PACK) is to provide data that instructors can use to determine a student's knowledge of the phonological code. The assessment results are helpful when choosing a starting point for remediation and progress monitoring.
In addition to these screening regimes, DCS studies the results of standardized tests to help assess our curriculum, teacher delivery processes, and the overall effectiveness of our academic program.
DCS is committed to providing the best academic program for our students possible. While formal screening regimes and standardized tests are vital components of our educational program, our teachers' overarching knowledge, experience, education, and love for our students predominate DCS students' success.
Star Assessments
Star Assessments are short tests that provide teachers with learning data. Star tests are computer adaptive, which means they adjust to each answer your child provides. This helps teachers get the best data to help your child in the shortest amount of testing time (about one-third of the time other tests take).
Teachers analyze the data they get from Star Assessments to learn what students already know and what they are ready to learn next, to monitor student growth, and to determine which students may need additional help. Star Assessments are heavily researched and scientifically proven to help teachers guide each student on his or her unique path to mastery.
By pinpointing exactly what your child knows, teachers can personalize your child’s practice to keep them growing. Plus, short test times ensure your child spends more time learning and less time testing.
Standardized Test Highlights
Congrats to our Lions for excellent Star Assessment scores! After completing our recent testing in January 2021, we are proud to announce the percent of DCS students at or above the Proficient Learner* scale is:
- 87% for Reading (compared to 70% average across top 3 public schools closest in proximity to DCS)
- 90% for Math (compared to 58% average across top 3 public schools closest in proximity to DCS)
“Proficient Learners” demonstrate proficiency in the knowledge and skills necessary at this grade level/course of learning, as specified in Georgia’s content standards, and are on track for college and career readiness.