High school sophomores in Louisiana will soon have fewer standardized tests to take at the end of the school year. Starting in the 2026-27 school year, the number of standardized tests they will take will go down from six to four.
State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley says it’s one less thing that those students will have to worry about.
“And it’s one of the latest steps we’re taking in strategically reducing the amount of time that students are having to take tests in high school and try to give more time for instruction with their teacher,” Brumley said.
Currently, sophomores at the end of the school year take two tests in English, two tests in math and one each in biology and civics. Brumley says the new tests will essentially combine the two English and math tests into one each.
“I think we’ve tested just too much over a period of time. And so we’ve been strategic over the last year plus and making reductions there,” Brumley said.
Brumley says students will need to pass the English and math tests, along with either the biology or the civics test, in order to earn their high school diploma.
“The passage of those tests will signal, to employers and universities, the quality of a Louisiana diploma and add value to that diploma,” Brumley noted.