The Office of Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Richmond, Virginia.

Students raising hands during class

Test Scores and Statistics

Standardized tests are a tool used in the educational process to evaluate student performance. Students in the diocese take MAP Growth (Measurement of Academic Progress) for reading and math, and the ACRE Test (Assessment of Child/Youth Religions Education) for religion.

MAP Growth

MAP Growth is given to all students in grades 2-8 (some schools also include students in grade 1). MAP Growth is a computer-adaptive assessment that is given three times per year (fall, winter, and spring) and used for instructional purposes in the areas of reading and mathematics. 

At the end of each testing period, families receive a report that provides a summary of how their child is performing in the academic areas tested.  

This first round of assessments is given in the fall to collect baseline information. The mid-year (winter) and final (spring) assessments allow us to monitor student academic growth over time. It is important to remember that this is just one of the many tools teachers use to tailor instruction to meet the needs of all students throughout the school year. 

The MAP Growth Family Toolkit is a great resource to learn more about the assessment.

Catholic Schools Excel Post Pandemic

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), a biennial report of the U.S. Department of Education, notes Catholic Schools outperforming public school counterparts in almost all categories.

ACRE Assessment

The ACRE Assessment (Assessment of Children/Youth Religious Education) is a religious academic assessment tool used by Catholic schools and parishes and is given to students in grades 5, 8, 9 and 11. The assessment is aligned with the four Pillars of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the five Tasks of Catechesis. The test summarizes how well the students comprehended the basic teachings of the Catholic church in the preceding years, assess the religious beliefs, attitudes, practices, and perceptions of students in these grades and provides information about areas of strength in catechetical/religious education programs as well as areas of weakness that may need additional attention or improvement. 

Scores below reflect the percentage of students who perform above the 50th percentile.

Grade 5

Our Students 75%
National Average 69%

Grades 8 & 9

Our Students 80%
National Average 73%

Grades 11

Our Students 78%
National Average 71%

Blue Ribbon Schools

The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program recognizes public and private elementary, middle, and high schools based on their overall academic excellence or their progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups. The National Blue Ribbon School award affirms the hard work of students, educators, families, and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging content. 

Charlottesville Catholic School
Christ the King Catholic School
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School
Our Lady of Mount Carmel School
Sacred Heart Catholic School
St. Bridget Catholic School
St. Edward-Epiphany Catholic School

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Saint Gertrude High School
Saint Gregory the Great Catholic School
Saint Mary’s Catholic School
St. Matthew’s Catholic School
Saint Patrick Catholic School
Star of the Sea Catholic School
Walsingham Academy