With summer vacation right around the corner, TiZA students are in the process of conducting one final task – to complete the Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) test.  Last year, TiZA received the Growth Achievement Award from the NWEA as they were ranked number one nationally in student achievement.

NWEA has more than 3,400 partners in all 50 states and 41 countries and more than 4 million students take an NWEA assessment each year. To determine the Growth Achievement Award recipients, NWEA examines the test results of all districts that are current NWEA partners that have used NWEA data for at least two years and have growth data for at least 65 percent of students enrolled in their program.

“It continually amazes me how ambitious and dedicated our students are to achieving their academic goals.” said Asad Zaman, executive director at TiZA. “I’m also extremely proud of our teachers and staff who have spent so much time preparing our students excel and be the best they can be.”

In addition to the NWEA award, TiZA leads the state in math and reading achievement as measured with the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment II (MCA-II) and has been recognized for achieving the highest percentage of students scoring at grade level or better, despite having a high number of children living in poverty. TiZA serves a student population from over 20 countries. Approximately 80 percent of TiZA’s students are from low-income households and about 70 percent are English language learners. TiZA has also received the Commissioner’s Finance Award for the past two years.

Tips from TiZA Teachers on Preparing for Tests
•    Create flashcards or other tools to help you study
•    Host study sessions with your friends
•    Make sure to get a good night’s sleep before the test day
•    Eat a hearty breakfast to fuel the brain
•    Stay hydrated with water during the test