Download a PDF Version of the page (coming soon)

A. When does the high school placement exam take place? 

• Saturday, October 25, if your student will attend Elk Grove, Prospect or Rolling Meadows High Schools 
  (Makeup date is Saturday, November 8)

• Saturday, November 8, if your student will attend Buffalo Grove, John Hersey or Wheeling High Schools 
  (Makeup date is Saturday, November 15)

Testing Time: 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Plan to arrive at 7:45 a.m. End times may vary depending on when each room starts testing.
Students with specific testing accommodations based on an IEP or 504 will end at different times. See section H for more details.

B. Where does my student go for the placement exam?
Your student should test at the high school based on your address boundaries. Visit www.d214.org/districtmap to look at the high school boundaries map.
Students should be picked up and dropped off at the following location for each high school: Placement Exam High School Locations.

C. How do I reserve a spot for my student for the placement exam?
You will pick the test date when you complete the high school Intent to Enroll. If you do not complete the Intent to Enroll by the October 16 deadline, you may still send your student to the high school for the exam. If your student misses the initial exam date, they can still attend testing on the makeup date without notifying the school. 

D. What should my student bring to the exam?

• Two No. 2 pencils with erasers (not mechanical pencils)
• A scientific or graphing calculator. Students can use a calculator for the math section, however, all questions can be answered without a calculator.
• Students must use their legal name when testing.
• Please label all belongings. No portable electronics should be brought into the testing rooms. Cell phones are allowed, but must be turned off during testing. 

E. What is the high school placement exam?
The placement exam includes sections in English, Mathematics, Reading and Science. It is a paper test and students will bubble their answers on a separate answer sheet. The purpose is to establish a baseline of each student’s academic progress. This exam is not an official exam that can be used for any other purpose other than District 214 placement.

F. Why is it important to attend the placement exam?
This assessment, along with grades and other information, helps to ensure students are enrolled in the most academically appropriate classes. The results from this exam are used to assist with classroom placement and will help determine if students require summer school instruction prior to entering District 214. Please emphasize the seriousness of the exam. If a student is too disruptive during testing, you will receive a call to pick up your student.

G. Will I receive placement exam results?
Yes, in December you will receive information on your student’s performance. These scores are used for placement and are not part of the student’s permanent record.

H. What testing accommodations are available if my student has an IEP or 504 designation?
District 214 receives a list of students who receive testing accommodations from the middle/junior high schools.

We offer the following accommodations for the placement exam.

• Extended time: Students will have 50% extra time for each section of the exam. They will also test with a smaller group of students and have an extra break built in. Testing should end around 12:10 p.m. They may finish earlier than that, if the entire room doesn’t use the extra time.
• Test read/text to speech: Students will take the exam online on a computer or iPad with headphones. Students can choose to listen to parts or all of the exam. Students may finish closer to 1:15 p.m. They may finish earlier than that, if the entire room doesn't use the extra time.
• Small group
• Large print

If your student has accommodations that require one-on-one testing or beyond what is described above, your student’s home high school Special Education or Student Services department administrator will contact you in order to discuss your student’s specific testing needs. Alternative arrangements may be made in order to accommodate your student’s needs. Students who require one-on-one testing may not need to test, as the 8th grade and high school teams may already have sufficient information in order to recommend appropriate academic courses. Final decisions on academic courses are made in conjunction with IEP or 504 teams.

If your student qualifies for the DLM Alternate Assessment, they will not need to take the Placement Exam, as sufficient information will be gathered through alternate methods in order to recommend academic courses. Final decisions on academic courses are made in conjunction with the IEP team.

If you have questions regarding IEP accommodations, contact the Special Education Division Head at your home high school. If you have questions regarding accommodations from a 504 Plan, contact the Student Services department at your home high school. 

I. What if my student cannot attend either exam date?
We encourage all students to test on one of the Saturday dates. If it is not possible to test due to major conflicts, District 214 will email parents of students who did not test about a make-up opportunity in January or February during the school day.

J. Who should I contact if I have more questions about the placement exam?
Contact the Assessment Supervisor at the high school your student will attend.