Niles West students missed class this week to take the standardized Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) test, a requirement Niles West is obligated to fulfill. All students enrolled in junior English classes took the English-Language Arts test on Tuesday, a test lasting over four hours, and students enrolled in Algebra II are missing their math class today for an additional three hours of testing.

Many juniors are upset and feel the tests are unnecessary. Some have gone as far as planning to not take the test, protesting what they feel is being over-tested. A large group of students has joined a Facebook group called “Walk Out For PARCC Test” to stage their disapproval of the test.

Junior Dylan Fleites feels over-tested and that the PARCC test is an inaccurate assessment of students’ abilities.

“I believe standardized testing has really begun to define for students whether they’re smart or not smart when really it’s just your ability to answer many questions within a time crunch,” he said.

Many juniors chose not to participate in the test, not by walking out, but instead by opting out of the test if they so chose. Those who opted out were instructed to sit without any electronics, being respectful to those that chose to take the test.

“I didn’t read it,” junior Calvin Cadet said. “It just gave me more time to talk to my friends.”

“It was a waste of time. It has no benefit towards me. I was given no reasons to take it– there was no incentive,” junior Matthew Dugo added.

However, assistant principal Mark Rigby has stressed that the school cannot refrain from administering the test regardless of how many students choose to opt out.

“It’s a state mandated test,” Rigby said. “The district is required to administer this test and if we don’t, there are financial penalties. CPS is being fined 1.6 billion dollars for not doing it.”

Rigby also said that students who don’t show up to the test will receive the same disciplinary consequences as students that cut class.

“It’s a regular school day. If you don’t come to school, you’re going to have attendance issues. For [students who] cause disruptions and don’t follow the rules as far as talking, cell phone usage and so forth, there will be consequences for not following the rules of the testing environment.”

As expected, there were some bumps in the road that came with the first day of testing. “It was a struggle. I think that half the time [students] were fine and the other half they were disruptive. But, we got it done,” Rigby reflected. Regarding the high number of students that opted out of taking the test, Rigby added, “I think it’s silly and there is no point to doing it. I think you should try your best to do what is in front of you. Life is habit forming and not to try is wrong. I raise my kids to try their best and I think kids should have taken it.”

While many students are unhappy with the circumstances of PARCC testing, Algebra II teacher Seema Chandarana, who will lose class time with students that are taken out of her class for PARCC testing, encouraged the students and faculty to stay positive.

“We each have a choice of thought around every topic,” she said, ” and the thoughts that feel aligned benefit us most. A perspective that frames the current reality in a positive light allows that reality to evolve into a form that serves the highest good for all involved.”

Today the mathematics portion of the test will be administered to all Algebra II students.