When sophomore Leila Raymond chose to opt out of testing this year, she hopes to make better use of her time.

“I personally feel that my time could be better used studying for a test that affects my future,” Raymond said.

Assessment Coordinator Jami Lapray said she believes students opt out because they don’t understand the values of taking the tests.

“I’m not sure that students completely understand that they can learn something about their skill level. By the next day they can see whether or not they’ve improved from the year before or whether or not they’ve kind of stayed the same,” Lapray said.

Lapray said she sees value in taking the tests for the students and teachers, as well as the community.

“I think that it’s very important for teachers to know how well what they’re doing in the class is translating for the students and for someone who lives in the community I think it’s really important to be able to say to neighbors, to friends, as a person who pays taxes, are people doing well? And it’s nice to be able to see how well kids are doing.”

Lapray said that even with students opting-out, the school will continue to give the test.

“I think the school, we need to know from a neutral third party how well we’re doing. Unless you have an unbiased view of how you’re doing, you can’t really know and so I think we’ll at least offer them for the foreseeable future,” Lapray said.

Raymond said although she will not be taking the test, she sees value in them and thinks the school should still give the tests.

“I think that they could be beneficial to the school and for the country to get data, but I don’t necessarily feel like they’re a good use of individuals time.