What is a stanine?

A stanine is indeed a way to report test scores. It is a system of scaling test scores on a nine-point scale, where a score of 1 represents the lowest performance and a score of 9 indicates the highest. Stanines allow educators to easily interpret student performance relative to a standard or a group. For instance, a student who scores a stanine of 5 is performing at the average level compared to peers. This type of reporting simplifies data and enables quick assessments of where students stand academically, making it a valuable tool in educational settings.

The other options do not accurately describe what a stanine is. While qualitative assessments and standardized programs may be related to testing and education, they are different concepts entirely. Additionally, literacy skills encompass a broader scope that does not specifically pertain to the method of reporting scores as a stanine does.