Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment

The Great Valley School District focuses on the social and academic growth of each child. To that end, we provide a rigorous academic program rooted in best practice and delivered by an exemplary professional staff. Our curriculum is horizontally and vertically aligned, meaning that the concepts and skills students learn continue to build from year to year in all content areas. In addition, we are proud to offer a rich array of electives at our high school where students can explore their interests and talents. 

Assessments

See the Elementary (K-5) Assessment Calendar

See the Secondary (6-12) Assessment Calendar

The Great Valley School District uses various means of assessment that gather data and evidence of students' learning. There are three types of assessments used in Great Valley:

Diagnostic assessments: These help us identify your child’s current knowledge, any possible misconceptions about an area or topic before instruction occurs, or their skills and capabilities. Diagnostic assessments help Great Valley educators know your child’s strengths and areas for growth to help plan instruction.  

Formative assessments: The primary focus of formative assessment is to identify areas that may need improvement. These assessments typically are not graded and act as a gauge of students’ learning progress and to determine teaching effectiveness. 

Summative assessments: Summative assessment is more product-oriented and assesses the final product, whereas formative assessment focuses on the process toward completing the product.

Within Great Valley School District, our educators use a balanced approach to assessments to measure student learning.