Assessment and Guidance Department

Welcome to the Watertown Public Schools Assessment and Guidance Web Page.

Assessment and Guidance encompasses three main service areas in the district:  1) district-wide regular education assessment which is the cornerstone of data gathering around academic progress,  2) psychological assessment which is part of the IEP/Special Education eligibility process, and 3) guidance services extending from Kindergarten through 12th grade.

General Education Assessment

Watertown uses Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) to assess academic achievement three times each year for all elementary and middle school students, as well as some high school students. The coordination of the testing process, the analysis of the data by school-based teams, and the sharing/use of this information to guide curriculum development and instruction are key components of ensuring data-driven instructional practice. Further, the analysis of this data is coordinated with MCAS scores and additional classroom-based assessment measures to further enhance an understanding of student growth and achievement.

 Special Education Assessment

Districts are mandated to assess students in a number of areas as part of the Special Education eligibility determination process. Psychologists in the district complete these assessments each year for this purpose. Further, through this department, consultation around test supplies, storage & procedures to all disciplines involved in assessment (OT, PT, Speech and Language, Special Education) is provided. 

Guidance Department

Guidance counselors play a key role in all schools K-12th grade in enhancing school climate, providing a vital communication link with  parents, and counseling students each day. Additionally, they manage the MAP and MCAS assessment process and preside over both General Education Teams (GET) and  Section 504 meetings. They also are essential in implementing the district’s Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan. Additionally, at the High School, they are extensively involved in the college application process, the administration of various exams (PSAT, SAT, AP) and in overseeing a legion of local scholarships.

SAT Watertown High School Code: 222250

MCAS and Growth Data

This page provides you with information about the MCAS program. The menu on the right side of the screen will link you to this information located at the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Schools and other related resources. The information found at these links will help you better understand the state's assessment programs. If you have any questions please contact your child's school.

Massachusetts has developed a method of measuring growth in student, group, school, and district performance over time. The growth model complements the MCAS year-by-year test scores, since it reports change over time rather than grade-level performance results in any one year. Links to tutorials on interpreting the growth model can be found on the right side of this page. Each tutorial takes less than ten minutes to complete.


Contact the Webmaster Updated on: January 24, 2011
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