Student scores on NYS tests are converted to four achievement levels, from Level 1 indicating no proficiency to Level 4 indicating advanced proficiency. At the high school level, raw scores are converted to a numerical grade.

Test results are a snapshot of how the individual students – and the schools – are performing. Scores are only one data point, and need to be viewed in a broader context with other variables such as classroom performance and participation. Looking at test scores in isolation is like viewing one frame of a video – taken alone, the single frame does not provide enough information about the subject at hand.