CDE’s SchoolView Data Center
The Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS) are Colorado’s standards-based assessments
designed to measure the Colorado Academic Standards (CAS) in the content areas of English language
arts*, mathematics, science, and social studies. The purpose of the CMAS assessments is to indicate the
degree to which students have mastered the expectations of the CAS in each content area at the end of
the tested grade level. CMAS results are intended to provide one measure of a student’s academic
progress relative to the CAS. Aggregated scores may be used by districts and schools to monitor their
programs’ effectiveness by comparing performance from year to year.
CMAS science and social studies assessments were first administered across Colorado in 2013-2014, and
CMAS mathematics and English language arts assessments were first administered in 2014-2015. The
following table includes the content areas and grade levels that were assessed across Colorado in spring
2017.
| Content Area |
Grades |
| English Language Arts |
3-9 |
| Mathematics |
3-9 |
| Science |
5,8 and 11 |
| Social Studies |
4 and 7 |
CMAS Mathematics and English Language Arts
Available in online and paper format, CMAS mathematics and English language arts assessments were
developed in collaboration with a consortium of states known as the Partnership for Assessment of
Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC). Mathematics and English language arts reports will be
grouped together throughout this guide because reports for both content areas were developed with
the consortium.
CMAS Science and Social Studies
Available in online and paper format, CMAS science and social studies assessments were developed by
Colorado educators, the Colorado Department of Education, and testing contractor, Pearson. Science
and social studies reports will be grouped together throughout this guide because reports for both
content areas were developed specifically by Colorado.
For more information on standardized testing go to the Colorado Department of Education website at http://www.cde.state.co.us/assessment/CoAssess-About.asp