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Assessments

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Knowing Where Your Child Stands

At Pi Learning Academy, assessments aren't about ranking kids or putting pressure on them — they're a tool to help us, and you, understand exactly where your child is doing well and where they could use a little more support. We don't teach to the test. We test so we can teach better.

Our standard testing program for full-time students includes MAP (Measures of Academic Progress), offered each quarter through our testing provider partner, along with Florida's FAST assessment in the applicable grades. All testing is included in tuition for full-time students — at no additional charge.

Because every child is different, we also offer a choice of additional well-respected assessment options — STAR Assessment and IXL Diagnostic — available to families who prefer them or who are enrolled part-time or in our homeschool enrichment program. You pick what fits your child and your family's goals. Results are shared with you clearly — no jargon, no confusing graphs. Just a real conversation about what your child knows and what comes next.

Testing cadence: MAP Growth is administered quarterly (four times per school year) to track ongoing progress, and FAST is given across Florida's three progress-monitoring windows (PM1, PM2, PM3). For our homeschool enrichment families, a single end-of-year assessment can also satisfy Florida's annual evaluation requirement for home education.

Assessment Options

Choose What Works For Your Child

Four trusted, nationally-recognized assessments. Pick the one that best fits your child's age, learning style, and your family's goals.

MAP Growth Included for full-time students

Measures of Academic Progress · Grades K-12 · Administered quarterly via our testing provider partner

Available to all full-time students each quarter (four times per school year), administered through our testing provider partner. MAP is a widely-used adaptive assessment that measures what your child knows and is ready to learn next in reading, math, and language usage. Because it's adaptive, the test adjusts in real time to your child's ability — they won't be bored by questions that are too easy or overwhelmed by ones that are too hard.

  • Quarterly administration — four data points per year to track real growth
  • Delivered through our trusted testing provider partner
  • Untimed, computer-adaptive (typically 45-60 minutes)
  • RIT score shows growth over time, independent of grade level
  • National percentile ranking compared to peers
  • Included in tuition for full-time students at no additional charge

FAST Included for full-time students

Florida Assessment of Student Thinking · Grades 3-10 · PM1, PM2, PM3

Florida's statewide standardized test, administered three times a year for students in grades 3 and up. Covers reading and math aligned to Florida's B.E.S.T. standards. All full-time students in eligible grades take FAST as part of our standard testing program, at no additional charge. Results mirror what public-school peers are taking — useful if your child may transition between schools.

  • Three progress monitoring windows per year (PM1, PM2, PM3)
  • Adaptive, online, aligned to Florida B.E.S.T. standards
  • Measures Reading and Math (FAST also offers a Writing component in older grades)
  • Results transfer cleanly if your child enrolls in a Florida public school
  • Included in tuition for full-time students at no additional charge

STAR Assessment

Renaissance STAR · Best for Grades K-3

Short, computer-adaptive assessments in Reading, Math, and Early Literacy. STAR is especially well-suited to younger learners because it includes the STAR Early Literacy test, which measures pre-reading and foundational skills like phonics, letter sounds, and vocabulary — the building blocks we want to catch early.

  • Fast (typically 15-20 minutes per subject)
  • STAR Early Literacy for pre-readers and early readers (K-1)
  • STAR Reading and STAR Math for grades 1-3 and beyond
  • Minimal pressure, ideal for young or test-anxious kids

IXL Diagnostic

IXL Real-Time Diagnostic · Grades K-12

An adaptive diagnostic that gives a snapshot of your child's levels across math and language arts, then builds a personalized action plan of skills to work on. If your family already uses IXL for practice at home, this assessment integrates naturally and gives clear next steps for everyday learning.

  • Adaptive, no fixed length — runs as long as needed to pinpoint each level
  • Breaks results into specific skill strands (fractions, phonics, grammar, etc.)
  • Generates a personalized practice plan tied to IXL's library
  • Especially useful for targeted remediation or enrichment

How We Use The Results

A test score is only as useful as what you do with it. Here's what happens after the assessment:

  • Parent conference: We sit down with you and walk through results in plain English — strengths, gaps, and what to focus on next.
  • Individualized learning plan: For our full-time students, we adjust instruction based on what each assessment reveals.
  • Written report: You receive a printable report you can keep, share with tutors or specialists, or submit as your end-of-year home-education evaluation (for qualifying homeschool enrichment families).
  • Ongoing progress monitoring: We don't wait until year-end to course-correct. Mid-year assessments help us adjust in real time.

Assessment Pricing

Full-Time Students
MAP (quarterly) + FAST + all options
FREE
Part-Time $50

Full-time tuition includes all assessments at no additional charge — MAP each quarter (administered through our testing provider partner), FAST in eligible grades, plus STAR or IXL if preferred. Part-time families pay $50 per assessment (administration, scoring, and parent conference included).

Common Questions

Which assessment should we pick?

Full-time students have access to MAP each quarter (administered through our testing provider partner) and FAST in the eligible grades — both are included in tuition. STAR and IXL Diagnostic are available as additional options if a family prefers them, and are the main choices for part-time and homeschool enrichment families: STAR is quick and low-stress (great for K-3), and IXL works well if you already use IXL at home. If you're unsure, we'll help you decide during enrollment.

Will my child be stressed?

We work hard to make test days feel like any other school day. Kids take assessments in our regular classroom with familiar teachers, and we never share rankings in ways that make students compete with each other. Most children actually find the adaptive tests engaging because the questions are tuned to their level.

Can we use the assessment for our annual homeschool evaluation?

Yes. Florida law (F.S. 1002.41) accepts standardized achievement tests as one form of annual home-education evaluation. MAP Growth, STAR, FAST, and IXL Diagnostic all qualify. Pi Learning Academy will provide a signed evaluation report suitable for submission to the Hillsborough County Home Education office.

How do we schedule?

Assessments are offered throughout the school year. Contact us at info@pilearningacademy.org or call (656) 222-0699 to find a time that works.

Ready To Enroll?

A non-profit private school where every child is known by name.

Pi Learning Academy is a non-profit private school in Brandon, Florida, serving grades 1-6. We offer both a full-time Monday-through-Friday program and a flexible homeschool enrichment option, so whether you're looking for a full private school or just a couple of days a week to support what you're already doing at home, there's a fit here for your family. Small classes, hands-on learning, and teachers who take the time to really know your child.

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