How Pear Assessment Delivers Actionable Insights to Drive Student Growth at Denver School of Science and Technology
Lauren Turner, the Manager of Assessment at the Denver School of Science and Technology (DSST), plays a crucial role in ensuring effective student assessment across her district. Having started as a contract-based Assessment Coordinator during the 2020-2021 school year, Lauren was brought in at a time when schools were scrambling to transition assessments to digital platforms.
"My first job was migrating all of the assessments teachers had into the Pear Assessment platform so they could take those tests," Lauren recalls. Over time, her role evolved to not only supporting teachers in using Pear Assessment but also managing benchmark and final exam assessments directly within the platform, ensuring a smooth process for both teachers and students.
Why DSST chose Pear Assessment
DSST ultimately committed to Pear Assessment after trialing multiple assessment platforms. One key reason for this decision was the seamless integration with DSST’s internal data dashboards. "The Pear Assessment API speaks well to our API, which has made it easier to consolidate and analyze assessment data in-house," Lauren explains.
Another critical factor was Pear Assessment’s responsiveness to feedback and feature development. "The development team has been really responsive to any feedback we've given about things that aren’t working well for teachers. They've done a great job of taking that feedback and addressing it."
Enhancing instruction through data-driven insights
One of the standout benefits of Pear Assessment for DSST has been its ability to provide teachers with in-context insights into student performance. "Teachers can compare performance on a standard across multiple assessments and respond to that data in as close to real-time as possible," Lauren shares.
Teachers leverage these insights to drive instruction. DSST's content managers play a vital role in coaching teachers on how to interpret and act on assessment data.
“We do a lot of preparation with assessments beforehand, making sure everyone is aligned on how to score them. Our content managers guide the teachers by saying, 'Let's all discuss how we would score this,' helping to build in those additional coaching pieces. The platform is great, but without this kind of support and understanding of how to approach it, it’s harder for new teachers to reach that level of proficiency.”
Preparing students for high-stakes testing
DSST has strategically used Pear Assessment to help students prepare for state tests and college entrance exams. Previously, DSST relied on Achievement Network (ANET) assessments, which were administered through another platform. However, this platform was often unreliable, which led to significant frustrations. "We used to pay a lot of money to administer AET assessments through another platform, but we found it unreliable. This year, we migrated all our AET assessments into Pear Assessment, which streamlined the process and gave us more control over troubleshooting issues," Lauren explains.
For SAT preparation, DSST administers two practice exams in Pear Assessment each year. "When College Board announced the SAT was going fully digital, Pear Assessment introduced the ability to section within tests, which allowed us to closely mimic the real test experience," Lauren says. "Students now have the opportunity to practice in a setting that mirrors the actual test, which has been invaluable."
Additionally, DSST has begun transitioning AP (Advanced Placement) practice tests to Pear Assessment, aligning with the College Board’s shift to digital testing. "It's a really big shift for students, especially in math. The more practice they get, the better they'll perform on test day," Lauren adds, highlighting the importance of simulated test experiences to improve student outcomes.
Looking ahead
Looking ahead, Pear Assessment continues to play a vital role in DSST’s approach to student learning and assessment. By streamlining the assessment process and providing valuable insights, it empowers teachers to focus on instruction rather than administrative tasks.
"We try to support teachers as much as we can and take what we can off their plates. Pear Assessment has been a key part of making that possible," Lauren explains. As DSST refines its assessment strategies, Pear Assessment remains a trusted tool in ensuring students receive meaningful, data-driven feedback to support their growth.
Maximizing impact across the instructional process with the Pear Deck Learning Platform
Pear Assessment will be part of the Pear Deck Learning Platform, launching for back-to-school 2025-26. This all-in-one platform is designed to support teachers at every stage of the instructional process. With real-time, in-context data, educators will gain actionable insights that help differentiate instruction and tailor support to individual student needs, ultimately enhancing student performance. Streamlined tools for lesson planning, delivery, and assessment will save teachers valuable time, enabling them to focus on crafting personalized, impactful instruction. This will foster engaging, inclusive learning experiences that improve student outcomes.
Learn more about bringing Pear Assessment to your district to support your teachers and students.
