Another four days of dull pencils, tired eyes and STAR testing began on Monday at SDA.

In order to achieve sustained growth in STAR test scores the administration sent out pledges to students during homeroom. The pledges contain students’ STAR test scores from previous years, a place to write their goal for this year and  how they will achieve it. Students had mixed feelings about the pledges’ effectiveness on STAR test scores.

Students expressed different feelings about the STAR tests and the pledges. “I hate STAR testing; it’s one of the most boring parts of the whole year. But, we all have to endure it,” said Riley Murphy, freshman.

“I think this will be effective because students are creating specific scholastic goals for themselves and typically, when we try to achieve a goal we do,” said David Galloway, sophomore.

“I don’t think this is necessarily going to motivate students; it’s just going to make them feel bad about their previous scores. Plus, just because you set a goal doesn’t mean you’ll end up achieving it,” said Parker Lack, freshman.

While STAR test scores may not have immediate effects on students, if scores drop drastically the school could face long term consequences, according to Principal Tim Hornig.

“Nothing would happen immediately. What we could see way down the line, after consistent drops in our STAR test scores, is a government agency coming into our school and taking action,” said Hornig.

“It’s important to care about our STAR test scores because it affects our campus and the future generations at SDA. Plus, it’s always nice to rank higher than LCC,” said Shannon O’Donnell, sophomore.