PARCC Assessment Explained
PARCC — Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers — was a consortium of states that developed a common set of standardized assessments aligned to the Common Core State Standards. At its peak, PARCC was used in over a dozen states, but participation has declined significantly since 2015. As of the mid-2020s, only New Jersey and Washington D.C. remain using PARCC-aligned assessments, while other former member states have moved to their own state-specific tests.
What Did (and Does) PARCC Test?
PARCC assessments cover English Language Arts/Literacy and Mathematics for grades 3–8 and high school. The tests emphasize evidence-based writing, complex text analysis, and application of mathematical concepts to real-world problems — consistent with Common Core expectations.
How Are PARCC Scores Reported?
PARCC uses a five-level performance scale:
| Level | Description |
|---|---|
| 5 | Exceeded expectations |
| 4 | Met expectations |
| 3 | Approached expectations |
| 2 | Partially met expectations |
| 1 | Did not yet meet expectations |
Levels 4 and 5 indicate on-track or ahead-of-track performance for college and career readiness.
If Your State Left PARCC
If your state previously used PARCC and has since transitioned, your child now takes a state-specific assessment. See Find Your State’s Standardized Test to identify what your current state uses, and How to Read a State Test Score Report for general guidance on state score reports.