The Diocese of Rockford has chosen to use ARK testing in their deanery schools which includes St. Mary School Elgin. ARK testing consists of two components:

ARK Academics is a traditional academic formative assessment measuring your child’s knowledge of Math and Reading. It is similar to previously used testing agencies in that it:

  • Assesses student knowledge and growth so we can customize curricula for targeted instruction
  • Provides data so we can see how our students perform compared to students in public and other schools
  • Allows us to support effective learning strategies and resources for differentiated learning.

ARK Religion is a short, multiple-choice survey that assesses your child’s knowledge of the Catholic Faith. We are using ARK Religion because it:

  • Helps us understand how well we are educating students in six main areas: the Creed, the Sacraments, morality, prayer, Christian discipleship, and virtue.
  • Identifies what our schools are doing well and where we can improve
  • Provides teachers with classroom-ready lesson plans and activities that address knowledge gaps effectively.