About: Overview: Passing the HSAs
All students who entered 9th grade in or after 2005 are required to take and pass the High School Assessments in order to graduate, including students in special education, English language learners (ELLs), and students with 504 plans. (Students who entered 9th grade in or before 2004 are required only to take the HSAs.)
Latest News: Government High School Assessment (HSA) Eliminated After May 2011
The last administration of the Government HSA will be in May 2011. Students graduating in the class of 2011 still need to pass the Government HSA, complete the necessary Bridge Plan project(s), or meet the combined score option of 1602. For information about students graduating in the class of 2012 and beyond, the elimination of the test and changes in HSA graduation requirements for students, click here.
There are three ways to fulfill the HSA requirement:
- Students can earn a passing score on all three exams; or
- Students can use the combined-score option, which requires earning a total score of at least 1208. The combined-score option allows students to offset lower performance on one exam with higher performance on another; or
- Sucessfully complete the Bridge Plan for Academic Validation for those assessments on which the student has not achieved the passing score. The Bridge Plan cannot be used as part of the combined-score option.
Topic Area Passing Score English 396 Algebra/Data Analysis 412 Biology 400
What Happens If a Student Doesn't Pass?
Students can retake the HSAs as many times as necessary to pass. Students who do not pass an HSA should talk to their teachers or school counselors to find out how to get extra help before retaking the exam. Once students have gotten help, they can retake the exam the next time it is given. For schedule of HSA test dates, click here.
Each local school system has developed intervention strategies to help students master content in the four HSA content areas. For more information about those intervention strategies, contact your school system's Local Accountability Coordinator. Parents can also contact their child’s school to find out what help is being offered. For information on local intervention strategies, click here.
The state has also developed resources to help students pass the HSAs. MSDE has developed online courses that teachers and parents can use with students to help them pass the exams. Additionally, each year MSDE releases one assessment per subject to the public. To review a sample test, click here; to take a practice test online, click here.
For more information about the Bridge Plan for Academic Validation, click here.
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