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 (starting with students who entered grade 9 in 2005) must take and pass in order to graduate. See the Passing Scores chart, the HSA Test Calendar, and the Graduation Requirements poster.

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.

Go to resources and information for
Parents | Students | Teachers

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 ..
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

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.

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

Add the NSDL Search Gadget to your iGoogle page.

Expand Your Knowledge of Biology Content - Quick Links
BCPS STEM Portal
BCPS Web Links - Core Learning Goals
Biological Sciences Pathway
Biology Online - Life Science Reference
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.



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

Add the NSDL Search Gadget to your iGoogle page.

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.
Student Resource Center Gold
(Select general topics of interest and practice reading articles by reading level (basic, intermediate, advanced).
SIRS Researcher (Practice reading pros and cons on current issues.)
Literature Resource Center
(Explore authors and their works.)
SKS WebSelect (Click subject area of interest and practice reading.)
World Book Search 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
Interactive Reading Practice
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.)

...

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

AVID Strategies
Cornell Notes How-to-Guide
Cornell Notes Toolkit