Assessment + Placement
We Don't Guess Where Students Are Ready to Learn
How Do We Know Where Your Child Belongs?
ASSESS
PLACE
TEACH
PRACTICE
MASTER
GROW
Placement at Lighthouse is about finding the right starting point—not passing a test.
Before beginning at Lighthouse, students participate in a placement process designed to help our team better understand both the student and their current academic readiness.
We intentionally do not want this to feel like a traditional standardized-testing environment.
The purpose is not to rank children, compare them to other students, or reduce a child to one test score.
We are trying to answer a much more useful question: What is this child ready to learn next?
Before We Can Meet Students Where They Are, We Have to Know Where They Are.
The amount of time needed for placement can vary depending on the student, their academic level, and the number of students being assessed.
We typically assess students in a very small setting, with up to four students working with one teacher.
What Placement Looks Like
Reading
For Reading, a teacher works individually with each student to help determine their instructional reading level and better understand the skills the student is demonstrating independently.
Math
Students complete a paper-based Christian Light Education Math placement assessment.
Because this is a true placement tool rather than simply a grade-level test, the assessment may change as the student works.
If we quickly discover that a level is much too easy or too challenging, we can adjust rather than requiring a student to continue through material that isn't appropriate for them.
The goal is to locate an appropriate instructional starting point.
Writing
Students also complete an “All About Me” writing activity.
Placement should never be only about numbers.
We want to begin learning about the child's interests, personality, experiences, strengths, and the things that matter to them.
Because before we teach a student well, we need to begin knowing the student well.
School can and should feel different.
Lighthouse Learning was created because we believed families should not have to choose between strong academics and a school where their child is truly known. Between structure and flexibility. Between challenge and support. Between homeschooling and doing everything alone.