MOUNT VERNON — The week of March 16 is Ohio Graduation Test week for all area schools except Mount Vernon, which tested this week. Every sophomore will participate in the testing, as well as any upperclassman who still needs to pass one or more sections of the test. Every student must pass all five sections of the OGT in order to receive a diploma in the state of Ohio.
The students will have 2 1/2 hours to take the test each day, according to the following schedule: Monday, reading; Tuesday, mathematics, and students may use the OGT calculators; Wednesday, writing; Thursday, science; and Friday, social studies.
Nancy Hull, Centerburg High Schools guidance counselor, had these suggestions for students taking the tests and their parents:
•Do not plan vacations during this week.
•Do not make doctor or dentist appointments during the mornings of test week.
•Make sure students get a good night’s sleep each night.
•A good breakfast is a must.
•Encourage the student to do his or her best.
Although the OGT is important, Fredericktown’s counselor, Lisa Fike, said students shouldn’t get overly stressed out about it because underclassmen have a total of five tries to pass all parts of the OGT. She said this year’s tests results should be received before the end of May, with schools getting the seniors’ scores before sophomores’ and juniors’.
Some schools will adjust school day schedules to accommodate the testing, others will not. High school students in Centerburg, East Knox, Highland and Knox County Career Center will follow their regular schedule.
At Clear Fork, a late arrival time is permitted for students not taking the OGT; buses will run on the regular schedule. Students wishing to take advantage of the late arrival time will have to provide their own transportation, otherwise they may ride the bus as usual.
Danville has scheduled a 10 a.m. start time for juniors and seniors who have already passed all sections of the OGT; they must provide their own transportation if they wish to arrive late. For those riding the bus at the regular time, a supervised study area will be assigned. Freshmen and sophomores will arrive at the usual time and participate in testing.
Fredericktown eighth-graders, freshmen and sophomores should report to the school at the regular time, as should juniors and seniors who have not passed all sections of the OGT. Juniors and seniors who have successfully completed the OGT should report to the school by 9:50 a.m.
Juniors and seniors at Johnstown-Monroe who have passed the OGT have a two-hour late arrival time during testing week. All freshmen and sophomores should report to the school at the regular time.
North Fork juniors and seniors who have already passed the OGT may arrive at school two hours later than usual. They must provide their own transportation.
Northridge sophomores should report to school at the regular time. All freshmen, and juniors and seniors who have passed the OGT, have the option of arriving at school on a two-hour delay. Transportation will be provided at the regular time, and upperclassmen not taking tests will have extra study hall time, if they choose not to arrive late. Testing dates will be March 16 through 19, and Monday, March 23. There is no school on Friday, March 20.
