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West Virginia Homeschool Testing & Assessment Requirements
West Virginia requires annual assessment for homeschooled students, but gives you significant flexibility in how that assessment happens. You’re not locked into standardized testing—portfolio reviews, public school tests, and college entrance exams all count. Understanding your options helps you choose the method that fits your educational philosophy and your child’s learning style.
Key Takeaways
- Annual assessment required for all homeschool students
- Five assessment options to choose from (mix and match year-to-year)
- Grades 3, 5, 8, 11 results submitted to State Board by June 30
- All grade levels assessed annually but only reporting gates submit to state
- Cost ranges: $0-$300/year depending on method
- Portfolio review most popular among West Virginia homeschoolers
- Standardized tests provide national comparison data
- College entrance exams double as assessment for high schoolers
The Five Assessment Options
Option 1: Nationally Normed Standardized Achievement Test
This is the traditional route—your child takes a published standardized test that’s scored nationally.
What qualifies:
– Published achievement test (math, reading, language, science, social studies)
– Normed within the previous 10 years
– Administered according to published instructions
– Administered by a “qualified person” (parent, tutor, or test administrator)
Popular tests used in West Virginia:
– Iowa Assessments (ITBS/Iowa Tests) — Comprehensive, widely recognized, available for grades K-12
– Stanford Achievement Test — Standard in many districts, national norms
– California Achievement Test (CAT) — Flexible format, commonly available
– Terra Nova — Comprehensive, grade 1-12
– Woodcock-Johnson — Cognitive and achievement, often used for learning evaluation
– CLT (Classic Learning Test) — Newer option, high school focus
Who administers:
– You (parent) can administer most tests at home
– School or testing center can administer
– Online or paper formats available
Cost: $50-150 per student per year (varies by test and provider)
Timeline: Can take 2-4 hours depending on grade level; can be done anytime during school year
Submission: Results (test scores, grade-level equivalency, percentiles) submitted to State Board if grades 3, 5, 8, or 11
Advantages:
– National comparison data (see how your child compares nationally)
– Standardized format year-to-year
– Scores work for sports eligibility (must be 4th stanine or above for WVSSAC sports)
– College-ready transcripts include standardized test data
– Objective, measurable results
Disadvantages:
– Single snapshot of performance (not ongoing demonstration)
– May not capture all learning styles
– Cost and testing time
– Pressure for test-anxious students
Option 2: Portfolio Review by Certified Teacher
A certified teacher reviews a portfolio of your child’s work and writes a narrative describing their academic progress.
What to include in portfolio:
– Work samples from all five required subjects (reading, language arts, math, science, social studies)
– Written assignments, projects, tests, creative work
– Evidence of learning over the school year
– Grade level, age, ability level context
Who can review:
– Public school certified teacher
– Private school certified teacher
– Co-op certified instructor
– Can ask your local public school to recommend a reviewer
– Some testing services offer certified teacher portfolio reviews
Cost: $100-300 for portfolio review and narrative (varies by reviewer)
Timeline: Submit portfolio by end of school year; reviewer provides written narrative (usually within 2 weeks)
What the narrative includes:
– Assessment of academic progress in five required areas
– Progress relative to child’s abilities
– Strengths and areas for growth
– Comparison to grade-level expectations (informal)
– Recommendation (on/ahead/below grade level)
Submission: Narrative submitted to State Board if grades 3, 5, 8, or 11
Advantages:
– Flexible—captures holistic learning including projects, creative work, real-world application
– Teacher feedback on progress
– Lower stress than standardized testing
– Reflects your actual curriculum and teaching
– Very popular in West Virginia
– Can include non-traditional learning evidence (blogs, presentations, service projects)
Disadvantages:
– Requires subjective teacher judgment (quality depends on reviewer)
– No national comparison data
– Doesn’t provide standardized test scores (concern for sports eligibility)
– Must coordinate with certified teacher
– Portfolio assembly is time-intensive
Option 3: Public School Standardized Tests
Your child takes the annual standardized tests administered by the public school.
How it works:
– Contact your local public school district
– Request that your homeschooled child take the annual state/district standardized tests
– Public school administers the assessment (usually spring)
– Public school submits results
– Results become official record
What tests:
– West Virginia state assessment (specific grade levels)
– District/county additional assessments
– Standardized achievement tests schools use
Cost: Free (public school pays for administration)
Timeline: Spring (coordinated with public school calendar); takes several hours to a few days depending on grade
Submission: Public school submits to state automatically
Advantages:
– No cost
– Aligns with public school curriculum/standards
– Official state assessment (if state-required test used)
– Easy for working families (school handles logistics)
Disadvantages:
– Must coordinate with public school
– Tests may not align with your curriculum
– Happens on school’s schedule (not your choice of timing)
– Designed for public school students (may not reflect homeschool progress)
Option 4: College Entrance Exam Scores
For high school students, SAT or ACT scores count as assessment.
What qualifies:
– SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test)
– ACT (American College Test)
Timeline:
– SAT: Offered multiple times per year (March, May, October, November, December, January)
– ACT: Offered multiple times per year (September, October, December, February, April, June, July)
– Can take early (10th grade) to assess college readiness
Cost: $50-70 per attempt (fee waivers available for low-income students)
Advantages:
– Serves dual purpose (college admissions + assessment)
– National comparison data
– College-required for most universities
– Demonstrates college readiness
– Can retake to improve scores
Disadvantages:
– High school students only
– Tests college-level content (may not assess elementary/middle school progress)
– Testing anxiety factors in
– Cost adds up with multiple attempts
– Doesn’t work for younger children
Note: Many WV families use SAT/ACT for 11th grade assessment reporting requirement.
Option 5: Other Approved Assessment Methods
West Virginia’s law allows “other approved options.” This includes:
Examples:
– Commercial homeschool assessment programs (Brigance, WNPT)
– College placement tests
– Advanced Placement (AP) exam scores
– International Baccalaureate (IB) scores
– CLEP (College-Level Examination Program) scores
– Military entrance exams (ASVAB)
– State-specific alternative assessments
How to verify: Check with your county superintendent or State Board to confirm an assessment method is approved.
Assessment by Grade Level: What’s Required
| Grade | Annual Assessment | Report to State | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| K-2 | Yes, but… | No | Annual assessment required but no state reporting gate |
| 3 | Yes | Yes, by June 30 | Reporting gate—submit results to State Board |
| 4 | Yes | No | Assessment required; results kept for records only |
| 5 | Yes | Yes, by June 30 | Reporting gate—submit results to State Board |
| 6-7 | Yes | No | Assessment required; results kept for records only |
| 8 | Yes | Yes, by June 30 | Reporting gate—submit results to State Board |
| 9-10 | Yes | No | Assessment required; results kept for records only |
| 11 | Yes | Yes, by June 30 | Reporting gate—submit results to State Board |
| 12 | Yes | No | Assessment required; results kept for records only |
Key point: You assess every year, but only submit results to the State Board for grades 3, 5, 8, and 11 by June 30.
Sports Eligibility & Test Score Requirements
If your child participates in public school sports through the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission (WVSSAC):
Requirement: Standardized test scores must be at or above the 4th stanine in all subject areas
What this means:
– Stanine scores range 1-9 (9 is highest)
– 4th stanine = average to above-average performance
– Your child’s test results must show 4-9 in reading, math, science, social studies, language arts
Assessment methods that provide stanine scores:
– Standardized achievement tests (Iowa, Stanford, Terra Nova, etc.)
– Public school state assessments
Assessment methods that may NOT work for sports:
– Portfolio reviews (don’t provide stanine scores)
– College entrance exams (different scoring)
– “Other approved options” (unless they generate national percentile/stanine scores)
Practical note: If sports participation is important for your family, use a standardized test that provides national percentile or stanine scores.
Timeline & Record-Keeping
School year assessment:
– Conduct assessment anytime during school year (Sept-May recommended)
– No required date—but best practice is end of school year or early summer
Submission deadline:
– Grades 3, 5, 8, 11 results due to State Board by June 30
Record retention:
– Keep assessment results for three years
– Keep all supporting materials (test booklets, portfolios, narratives, certificates)
Cost Summary
Annual assessment budget:
– Standardized test: $50-150
– Portfolio review: $100-300
– Public school testing: $0 (free)
– College entrance exams: $50-70 per attempt
– Other methods: varies
Multi-year example:
– 3rd grade: Standardized test ($80)
– 4th grade: Portfolio review ($200)
– 5th grade: Standardized test ($80)
– 6th-7th: Portfolio reviews ($200 each)
– 8th grade: Standardized test ($80)
– 9th-10th: Portfolio reviews or free public school option
– 11th grade: ACT/SAT ($60) or standardized test ($80)
– 12th grade: Portfolio review or standard test ($80-200)
Average annual cost: $75-150 depending on mix of methods
Choosing an Assessment Method
Best for data: Standardized tests (Iowa, Stanford, Terra Nova)
Best for flexibility: Portfolio review with certified teacher
Best for no cost: Public school standardized tests
Best for sports: Standardized test with national percentile/stanine scores
Best for college prep: SAT or ACT (high school)
Best mix: Alternate between standardized test and portfolio review based on your child’s learning style and your family’s needs
Most West Virginia homeschoolers use a combination—standardized test one year, portfolio review another. This provides both objective comparison data and flexible, holistic assessment.
The key is picking a method you can sustain annually, that aligns with your educational approach, and that provides meaningful feedback about your child’s learning. West Virginia’s flexibility in assessment options means you can customize your approach to your family’s values and needs.