Nationally Standardized Testing Requirement

Conventional Private Schools

In accordance with G.S. 115C-549, 550 and G.S. 115C-557, 558, each private school must administer a nationally standardized test or other nationally standardized equivalent measurement selected by the chief administrator to all students enrolled and regularly attending grades 3, 6, 9, and 11 each year. The nationally standardized test or other equivalent measurement selected by the chief administrator must measure achievement in the areas of English grammar, reading, spelling and mathematics in grades 3 and 6. For grade 9, the nationally standardized test or other equivalent measurement selected must measure either (a) achievement in the areas of English grammar, reading, spelling, and mathematics or (b) competencies in the verbal and quantitative areas.  The grade 11 test must measure competencies in the verbal and quantitative areas.  Non-public school law also requires that the test results be kept on file at the school's office for one year after the testing date for annual inspection by a DNPE staff representative.

Please remember that students receiving the NCSEAA Scholarships and Grants must be tested every year and there may be requirements to report aggregate scores for your school. Only certain companies can provide aggregate scoring.

Below are tests conventional private schools in North Carolina use most often; however, there are other tests which qualify which may not be on this list:

  • ACT
  • BASI
  • Brigance
  • CAT
  • CLT
  • CLT3-8
  • CLT10  
  • IOWA (ITBS)
  • MAP
  • OTHER
  • SAT
  • Stanford
  • Star Renaissance 360
  • Terra Nova
  • Test Point
  • WIAT
  • Woodcock
  • Johnson
  • WRAT

The Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) does not meet requirements for achievement testing in North Carolina.

  • The PSAT and PreACT meet the verbal and quantitative areas requirements for testing in grade 9. These tests may also be used for the 11th Grade Competency Test according to G.S. 115C-550.

11th Grade Competency Requirements

Each private school should establish a minimum score on an achievement test to be administered on or before 11th grade which ensures students possess a minimum of skills for high school graduation. Educational best practices typically mean that this score be roughly equivalent to the National Percentile average score range for 8th/9th graders on a standardized achievement test.

This score should be published to inform students and parents well before the year of graduation. This scores should also be indicated on the annual report submitted to The Division of Non-Public Education.

§ 115C-550. High school competency testing.

To assure that all high school graduates possess those minimum skills and that knowledge thought necessary to function in society, each private church school or school of religious charter shall administer at least once in each school year, a nationally standardized test or other nationally standardized equivalent measure selected by the chief administrative officer of such school, to all students enrolled and regularly attending the eleventh grade. The nationally standardized test or other equivalent measurement selected must measure competencies in the verbal and quantitative areas. Each private church school or school of religious charter shall establish a minimum score which must be attained by a student on the selected test in order to be graduated from high school. For one year after the testing, all records shall be made available, subject to G.S. 115C-174.13, at the principal office of such school, at all reasonable times, for annual inspection by a duly authorized representative of the State of North Carolina. (1979, c. 505; 1981, c. 423, s. 1; 2004-199, s. 30(b).)

Nationally Standardized Achievement Test Vendors

Listed below are some sources from which you may purchase nationally standardized achievement testing services.

This list is provided solely for your convenience in satisfying the North Carolina General Statutes' testing requirement for non-public school students. The information below (along with related links from it) does not constitute a recommendation or an endorsement by the Division of any one of these vendors or their other related services over any others not so listed.

Each vendor on this list has been providing standardized test services to the North Carolina non-public school community for more than five years.

Test Vendor Address Phone Number Website / Email
ATC Educational Services

Angie Cutlip
3700 Valley Pine Court
Wendell, NC 27591

Beverly Hardister
7740 Orchard Park Circle
Harrisburg, NC 28075

Allison Olds
4408 Woodcroft Ct
Wilmington, NC 28405

919-374-0282
(Wendell location)

704 454-3140
(Charlotte location)

910-297-5302
(Wilmington location)

www.atced.com
Academic Success Testing Service 1130 Ashleybrook Plaza Ln.
Winston Salem, NC 27103
336-239-5529 Email: Mtodd11658@gmail.com
American Association of Christian Schools 602 Belvoir Avenue East Ridge, TN 37412 423-629-4280

http://www.aacs.org/services/achievement-testing-program/

 

Email: info@aacs.org

Bayside School Services PO Box 250
Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948
800-723-3057
252-441-5351
www.baysideschoolservices.com
Bindrim Testing & Educational Services 1063 Carriage Trail
Rocky Mount, NC 27804
252-451-0118  
Bob Jones University Press BJU Press Customer Service
1700 Wade Hampton Blvd.
Greenville, SC 29614-0062
800-845-5731
or
864-770-1317
(for questions)
M-F 8am-5pm EDT
www.bjupresshomeschool.com
Email: testing@bjupress.com
Brewer Testing Services 2853 Davis Road
East Bend, NC 27018
336-699-3997

www.brewertesting.com

Test Questions: Pat@brewertesting.com

Order/Grading Status Questions:
Dempsey@brewertesting.com

Covenant Education Services 1213 Queen Anne Road
Wilson, NC 27896
252-281-4788

www.covenanteducationservices.net

Email: covenantedsvs@gmail.com

Foundations Educational Services LLC 2101 Piney Grove Wilbon Road
Holly Springs, NC 27540
919-758-0811 www.foundationseducation.com
Teaching Achieving Students Inc. 10237 Garrett Grigg Road
Charlotte, NC 282621 
704-453-9534 www.tasacademy.org
The Cardinal Center for Behavior Analysis
(Special Needs Testing)
Sara Moser
Licensed Special Education Teacher.

Office:
919-234-1546

Fax:
919-234-1603

Email: Sara.moser@thecardinalcenterforbehavioranalysis.com

The Cardinal Center provides four different
test for students with Special Needs.

  1. Vineland-3
  2. VB-MAPP
  3. ABLLS
  4. AFLS
Hewitt Educational Resources 2103 Main Street
Washougal, WA 98671
360-835-8708
800-348-1750
www.hewitthomeschooling.com
Email: sales@hewitthomeschooling.com
Homeschool Testing Services,
a service of Classical Conversations, Inc.
255 Grant St.
West End, NC 27376
910-673-0100 x1

www.homeschooltestingservices.com

Email: info@homeschooltestingservices.com

Lighthouse Educational Services 81 Kendall Drive
Clayton, NC 27520
919-302-5786

www.lighthouseedu.net

Email: info@lighthouseedu.net

Professional Teaching & Testing Penny M. Smelcer
1107 Fallen Oak Drive
Apex, NC 27502
919-362-1658

http://www.psmelcer.wix.com/classes

Email: psmelcer@nc.rr.com

Piedmont Education Services 1629 Turfwood Drive
Pfafftown, NC 27040
336-924-2494 http://www.pesdirect.com
Seton Testing Service 1350 Progress Drive
Front Royal, VA 22630

800-542-1066 X200

FAX: 888-282-7806

www.setontesting.com

Email: fsmoot@setonhome.org

Smoky Mountain Academic Resources
and Training (S.M.A.R.T.)

Asheville,

Western NC (WNC)

Wilmington

Hickory, Murphy

Morganton

Charlotte

Glenna Toney
SMART Office
10 Rosscraggon Dr.
Asheville, NC

Renee Smith
3 Keel Street
Unit #5
Wrightsville Beach, NC

Asheville/WNC location
(828) 775-7949

 

Wilmington location
(804) 389-0076

www.smarttesting.net
Email: glenna@smarttesting.net

 

www.smarttesting.net
Email: renee@smarttesting.net

SAT/ACT
additional essay subtest is required to count these test.
The PSAT/PACT does not fufill the testing requirements.
Please register online.

SAT Home-School code 970000

ACT Home-School code 969-999

https://www.collegeboard.org/

http://www.act.org/

TestPoint High Ground Solutions
2100 River Haven Dr., Ste 210
Birmingham, AL 35244
888-988-5884

http://testpoint.net/testing-products/achievement-testing/

amber@highgroundsolutions.com

Triangle Education Assessments, LLC 5512 Merion Station Drive
Apex, NC 27539

919-387-7004

1-877-843-8837

www.TriangleEd.com

Email: info@triangleed.com