Port Aransas High School freshmen get a week to become used to school after Spring Break before facing STAAR tests on Monday, March 26, and Tuesday, March 27.

High school principal Sharon McKinney said ninthgraders will take the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR) end of course test in writing on March 26 at 8 a.m., and the end of course test in reading on March 27 at 8 a.m.

“All other students in grades 10- 12 will attend classes according to their regular class schedules on both days,” McKinney said.

While the tests are designed to count as part of the student’s graduating score, the Texas Education Agency has granted a waiver for ninth-graders taking the test this year.

The tests will count toward graduating scores in succeeding years, however.

The STAAR tests replace the TAKS tests, which were used until this year to measure student knowledge and skills.