New Parent Resources

This year there will be no Algebra exemption exam.  Placement in math classes for incoming freshmen who have completed Algebra 1 in the seventh or eighth grade will be determined from algebra grades, teacher recommendation, HSPT data and other available standardized testing. The O'Connell math sequence places freshmen in some level of Algebra 1 or Algebra 2/Trigonometry.  Students who took Geometry in eighth grade will not be tested at this time. 

There will be no language placement exams this year in the eighth grades or at O'Connell.  Language placement will be based on language grades and teacher recommendations.  Students may continue with the language they began in middle school or select to begin a new language.  O'Connell requires two years of the same language taken during grades 9 through 12 for graduation.  Many colleges and universities require that students complete level 3 of a language for admission.  Students planning to study American Sign Language will have to wait until sophomore year to begin ASL, a two-year program.

Shortly after school begins, all second year language students will have a diagnostic test, similar in style to the placement test to determine any areas of language study which need to be strengthened due to this spring's distance learning format.  Teachers, counselors and families can also use these test results to confirm or adjust course placement. 

Students who requested to take the English Honors test will receive specific information on May 5 regarding the writing assessment which will take the place of O'Connell's on-site English Honors qualifying test this year.