Assessments and Interviews During the Application Process

Review of Applications

• The GTAIS Admissions Office carefully reviews all school records.
• We may contact the student’s previous school for more information.
• In many cases, no extra information is needed.

When Additional Information Is Needed

• Sometimes, the Admissions Team may request:
  • Extra documents
  • Assessments
  • Interviews with the student and parents
• If extra assessments are required, families arrange and pay for them.

Required Assessments 

Some assessments may be required after a student is accepted and before starting school.

English Language Assessment (EAL – WIDA)

• For students applying to Grades 1–8
• For students who do not speak English or have little or no English experience
• The assessment includes:
  • A short interview
  • Listening, speaking, reading, and writing tasks
• This helps the school understand the student’s English level.

MAP Assessment (Grades 3–8)

• For new students in Grades 3–8
• For students who do not need an EAL assessment
• The MAP test:
  • Shows the student’s current learning level
  • Adjusts questions based on the student’s answers
  • Helps teachers plan instruction and support learning growth
• MAP tests may be used after acceptance and during the school year.

Reading Assessment (Fountas & Pinnell – F&P)

• Used for students in Kindergarten to Grade 8
• Conducted one‑on‑one with a teacher
• Students read books at different levels
• The assessment helps teachers understand:
  • Reading level
  • Reading strengths
  • Areas needing support

Our Goal

• All assessments help us better support students.
• We use results to place students in the right learning environment.
• Our goal is to help every child succeed and feel confident at GTAIS.