STAR Test Scores on High School Transcripts – Are They Necessary?
According to John Nickerson, Educational Services Assistant Superintendent of the Acalanes Union High School District (AUHSD), including scores from California’s Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) tests on students’ high school transcripts, which are sent to university admission officers, is not a state requirement; nor is it requested by the University of California, Cal State Colleges, or Community Colleges. Nickerson says he has received no indication that private universities pay attention to these scores. So why did the District re-establish this practice in 2005? “It is done primarily because we believe student performance on CSTs (STAR tests) is an accurate reflection of student achievement in our core curriculum,” said Nickerson. He is echoed by private college admissions advisor Dr. Elizabeth LaScala. “My guess would be that some colleges might use the results to help evaluate prospective applicants,” she said, “It may be viewed as a more objective measure of a student’
