By Megan Yang
The week of Monday, March 13, 2023, Redwood High School’s [RHS] junior (the class of 2024) and senior (the class of 2023) students were required to take the California Science Test [CAST].
The California Science Test [CAST] is part of the statewide assessment system called the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress [CAASPP].
“This assessment uses questions that bring together science content, practices, and concepts,” Eric Rodriguez, RHS Assistant Principal of Curriculum and Instruction, says. “It also covers all three science domains: Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Earth and Space Sciences.”
This is the first time the junior class was required to take the exam, affecting the class of 2024.
In previous years, students took the CAST their senior year. However, moving forward into the future, Visalia Unified School District [VUSD] has decided to have the junior class take the assessment instead because most will be taking a science class.
“Administration and teachers are extremely proud of our [junior] and [senior] students for trying their best on the CAASPP and CAST,” Rodriguez says. “We hope our scores reflect the great work our teachers are doing… and the great effort our students put into their education.”
The class of 2024 will not have to take any state assessments for the school year of 2023-24. Future students will take the CAST in their junior year.
“The CAST went fine, but it was [kind of] boring,” Isaiah Topete ’23, says. “I got pulled into the library and had to take my test during first period.”
Topete says the test was like “kindergarten stuff” because “it was just the science [test], so it was easy.”
Lucy Ponce-Esquibel ’24, says, “The CAST was boring and not fun.”
Science is not Ponce’s strong suit. She says, “The questions asked were hard and about stuff [I’ve] never heard of.”
“I felt very unprepared,” Ponce says. “I like the fact that we did it this year just because we got it over with, so we don’t have to do it next year.”
Megan Yang
Megan Yang ('24) is in her 4th year of Journalism. She is a writer and editor for the News section and enjoys writing for the Redwood Gigantea.
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