Test Scores

Northside Catholic Academy students consistently exceed the national average in Terra Nova test scores in every subject. We are among the few area schools that test every Grade 3 - 8 student each year.

Our student base reflects our neighborhood: we welcome students of all backgrounds and we do not require an entrance exam for admission.

We are very proud of how well our students perform!

2010 Terra Nova Test Scores

The Terra Nova Testing is completely different than the ISAT which is used by Chicago Public Schools and cannot be compared. Also, the Terra Nova is nationally normed whereas the ISAT is normed by Illinois scores.

The above scores indicate how the average student at Northside Catholic Academy School ranked against the nation. For example, in Reading the average 5th grader at NCA ranked better than 79% of the 5th grade students nationally. (Keep in mind, the 50th percentile is average, and anything above the 58th percentile is significantly above average. So, NCA’s average students are well above average nationally! Great job, NCA!

Why We Use Terra Nova Testing

What makes the Terra Novas different from other standardized tests is that multiple assessments are part of the process. This means that the tests are not strictly multiple-choice. In every section - reading, math, language, science and social studies--students are given the opportunity to generate their own, written answers to open-ended questions. In these written answers, students are able to demonstrate their creative problem solving skills, as well as their proficiency at expressing their thoughts in writing. Results from the Terra Novas give us a snapshot of each child’s progress, and a general idea of the overall effectiveness of the curriculum. These results help us identify areas of the curriculum that are strong, as well as areas that may need further development.