From the Colorado Department of Education Website:

Colorado Measures of Academic Success

What are the Colorado Measures of Academic Success assessments?

The Colorado Measures of Academic Success, known as CMAS, are the state’s common measurement of students’ progress at the end of the school year in English language arts, math and science.

Students in grades three through eight take the CMAS tests in math and English language arts. Students in fifth, eighth and 11th grades take the CMAS science assessments.

How will the tests help my child?

The tests allow your child to show what they have been learning and practicing in their classroom, and how well they are connecting with classroom instruction. The results will let you know how well your school is teaching all students and will provide you and other families in your community with information about how local schools are meeting the needs of all students. The results will help you check your child’s progress toward mastering the academic standards’ grade-level expectations.

How will the tests help my child's school or district?

The tests provide critical information to the district and state on how well all students in your child’s school are doing, so the school can be supported. They allow teachers and principals to see any differences between groups of students and make improvements to instructionso that all students can succeed. The results can highlight gaps in achievement, so steps can be taken to ensure all students are supported in making meaningful progress. And the results can help state policymakers and local school boards identify schools that may need more assistance or resources.