students in graduation cap and gowns

High School Assessment
(HSA) Portal for BCPS

The High School Assessments, or HSAs, are four exams - one each in algebra/data analysis, biology, government, and English - that all students must take and pass in order to graduate.

View videos about the Maryland High School Assessments.

See the Passing Scores chart, the HSA Test Calendar, and the Graduation Requirements poster. Also, Maryland provides testing options such as Accommodations, Mod-HSA, and the Bridge Plan.

The tests are based on the Maryland High School Core Learning Goals, which were incorporated into Maryland's public school curricula in the 1990's. See Core Learning Goals for algebra/data analysis, biology, government, and English.

report card
student on phone MSDE 1-877-HSA-EXAM
BCPS Offices
English 410 887-4039
Science 410 887-1340
Social Studies 410 887-4017
Mathematics 410 887-4056
Assessment 410 887-3299
hsa

Home Base for All Things HSA

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Go to resources and information for
Parents | Students | Teachers

Parents

Practice HSA Tests - Free Online Courses - Use this to help your child learn HSA-tested material and practice answering questions similar to those on the Algebra/ Data Analysis and Government HSA tests. See directions to access these courses.

Top 10 Things Parents Need to Know About HSAs
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English | Spanish French | Korean | Vietnamese | Simplified Chinese

HSA and Your Child Posters
English  | Amharic | Arabic |  Chinese | French | Gujarati | Hindi | Korean | Russian | Spanish | Vietnamese 

High School Assessments and Your Child
English | Amharic | Arabic | Chinese | French | Gujarati | Hindi |  Korean  | Russian | Spanish | Tagalog | Urdu | Vietnamese

A Parent's Guide to Achievement Matters Most

English | Chinese | Korean | Spanish | Vietnamese | French

Bridge Plan to Academic Validation | Samples

Teachers HSA Intervention Courses - Incorporate HSA online courses in regular instruction by accessing quizzes, resources, interactive tools, and monitoring your students' progress in learning Algebra/Data Analysis and Government content. See directions to access these courses.

Educators' Resources for High School Assessments
  safari logospace
Search by STANDARDS to locate visual content to expand understanding of concepts.

Students ..Algebra/Data Analysis | Biology | English | Government
Algebra / Data Analysis

HSA Practice
Algebra/Data Analysis HSA Assessments and Answer Key

MSDE Using Core Learning Goals (Select from menu at top Functions & Algebra or Data Analysis & Probability for questions with answers, practice, and/or scored examples.)

 

Expand Your Knowledge of Algebra/Data Analysis Content-
Quick Links

WebMath Interactive Learning
BCPS STEM Portal
BCPS Web Links - Core Learning Goals
Algebra Project - Math Forum @ Drexel
National Science Digital Library Engineering Pathway (algebra)
National Science Digital Library Mathematical Sciences Pathway
ENRICH (Enhancing Mathematics)
Data Analysis - The Math Forum @ Drexel

Mathematical Sciences Digital Library

BCPS Databases and Digital Content
(Get passwords at your school library to access these resources from home; no login is needed at school.)
To access resources below, click title from icons shown on database portal.

DefinedSTEM
(Select math subject tree or use search tearm algebra.)
NetTrekker .(Select Mathematics)
Science Resource Center
(Use search term algebra.)
Science e-books
(Use search term algebra.)

SKS WebSelect
(Use search term algebra.)

World Book
(Use search term algebra.)

BrainPop - Math

(Select Math to view multimedia.)

MIT Highlights for High School is your guide to MIT courses selected specifically to help you prepare for AP exams, learn more about the skills and concepts you learned in school, and get a glimpse of what you'll soon study in college.

nsdl logo
Empower yourself by searching the National Science Digital Library for algebra topics.

Add the NSDL Search Gadget to your iGoogle page.

Biology

HSA Practice
Biology HSA & Answer Key


MSDE Using Core Learning Goals
Biology Concepts (Select for questions with answers, practice, and/or scored examples.)

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BCPS Databases and Digital Content
(Get passwords at your school library to access these resources from home; no login is needed at school.)
To access resources below, click title from icons shown on database portal.
NetTrekker .(Select Science)
Science Resource Center
(Search biology topics.)
Science e-books
.spacer..(Select Science, View Publications, Browse by book.)
SKS WebSelect spacer (Click Science link.)
World Bookspacer
(Search by biology topic or for a fast start search biology.)
BrainPop - Science spacer
(Select Science to view multimedia.)

Expand Your Knowledge of Biology Content - Quick Links
BCPS STEM Portal
BCPS Web Links - Core Learning Goals
Biological Sciences Pathway
The Biology Project
MIT Biology Hypertextbook
Kimball's Biology Pages

Cell Biology Animation
Cells Alive

MIT Highlights for High School is your guide to MIT courses selected specifically to help you prepare for AP exams, learn more about the skills and concepts you learned in school, and get a glimpse of what you'll soon study in college.


nsdl logo
Empower yourself by searching the National Science Digital Library for biology topics.

Add the NSDL Search Gadget to your iGoogle page.

English

HSA Practice
English 10 HSA and Answer Key

MSDE Using Core Learning Goals (Select from menu at top the goals 1-4
for questions with answers, practice, and/or scored examples.)


BCPS Databases and Digital Content
(Get passwords at your school library to access these resources from home; no login needed at school.)

To access resources below, click title from icons shown on database portal.
NetTrekker .(Select Language Arts)
Student Resource Center Gold
(Select general topics of interest and practice reading articles by reading level (basic, intermediate, advanced).
SIRS Researcherspacerspacer (Practice reading pros and cons on current issues.)
Literature Resource Center

(Explore authors and their works.)

SKS WebSelect spacerspacer(Click subject area of interest and practice reading.)
World Book spacerSearch general topics of interest to practice reading. Try critical reading section at Behind the Headlines).
BrainPop English Grammar & Usage (View multimedia how-to's.)

Expand Your Knowledge of English Content and Reading Skills - Quick Links
BCPS Web Links - Core Learning Goals
Opposing Viewpoints Critical Thinking
Guide to Grammar and Writing
and Interactive Quizzes

Gale Research Tools (Select how to judge information, read and interpret graphs, built an argument, organize a report, and much more.)
Gale Research Guide (Select guides for critical reading, evaluating resources, distinguishing between primary and secondary resources.)


...
hand
Writing Resources - The OWL at Purdue
A+ Research and Writing
Style and Writing Guides - IPL
High School English Guide

 

Government

HSA Practice
Government HSA & Answer Key

MSDE Using Core Learning Goals
- Political Systems (Select to practice questions and get answers.)

...

BCPS Databases and Digital Content
(Get passwords at your school library to access these resources from home; no login needed at school.)
To access resources below, click title from icons shown on database portal.
NetTrekker .(Select Social Studies )
SIRS Government Reporter
Student Resource Center
spacer(Search by typing in United States and check box primary sources.
Opposing Viewpoints

(Stay informed on issues, perspectives, and statistics.)
SKS WebSelectspacewr (Select global issues and then government.
World Bookspacerspacerspacer(Search U.S. Government, general topics of interest to practice reading. Try critical reading section @ Behind the Headlines).
BrainPop - Social Studies

(Explore topics or search government.

Website design by Della Curtis
Coordinator, Office of Library Information Services
Revised October 2010

Your comments and suggestions for content are welcomed.
Please email them to Della Curtis < dcurtis@bcps.org >.