Standardized test assessment is a normal part of modern education. It is also harshly criticized on multiple grounds, including its tendency to be narrowly focused and especially the power it has to control curriculum and educational focus.
This practice has placed massive pressure on public schools to teach to the test and focus all instructional time on the narrow skills and practices presented on the test. Private schools, on the other hand, have freedom from this destructive process. They are not beholden to test scores in order to maintain their budgets. A private school may still use some standardized testing, but it is used more appropriately as just one of a variety of assessment tools.
The focus on test scores in public school often leads schools to cut time for important subjects like art, music and physical education. These are subjects that cannot be adequately assessed by a standardized test, so schools tend to see them as unnecessary subjects or simply bonus subjects that can be addressed afterward. There is a variety of research that indicates teaching to a test does not improve overall learning or skills, even if test scores end up improving.
A private school that does not follow this method provides more effective education by giving students a balance of fun and interesting subjects. Students are more likely to enjoy school. Ironically, most students in these superior learning environments end up outperforming public school peers on standardized tests.
St. Mary’s School 