Testing Accommodations | Loyola Academy

Testing Accommodations

Accessible Learning, Individual Support, Academic Success

Loyola Academy is committed to providing reasonable accommodations that help students demonstrate their knowledge and achieve success in a rigorous college preparatory environment.

Students with documented learning differences may be eligible for testing accommodations that provide equitable access to assessments while maintaining Loyola's academic standards. Guided by our Jesuit commitment to educating the whole person, we work collaboratively with students, families, and professionals to ensure that accommodations support academic growth, confidence, and meaningful engagement in the learning process.

Students with Diagnosed Learning Differences

Loyola Academy is able to support students who require limited accommodations to be successful in a rigorous college preparatory environment. Students with diagnosed learning differences have achieved success across all academic placement levels at Loyola.

Requesting Accommodations

Families seeking testing accommodations must submit current documentation for review. Loyola will consider requests after receiving:

  • A complete psychoeducational or neuropsychological evaluation completed within the past three years
  • A signed release allowing Loyola Academy to contact the evaluator, if necessary
  • Information from current teachers regarding the student's academic performance and learning needs
  • For applicants, information regarding accommodations currently being used at the junior high level

If you suspect your child may have an educational disability but has not been formally evaluated, you have the right to request an evaluation through New Trier High School. Please review the legal timelines for special education evaluations for additional information.

Accommodations Available at Loyola

Loyola Academy may be able to provide:

  • Up to 50% extended time on tests and semester exams
  • Preferential seating
  • Alternative answer formats in place of Scantron forms
Accommodations Not Available at Loyola

As a college preparatory high school, Loyola Academy is not able to provide:

  • Curriculum modifications
  • Remediation services
  • Modified assessments
  • One-on-one instruction
  • Small-group testing
  • ESL instruction
Review Process and Academic Achievement Plans

The presence of a diagnosed learning disability does not automatically qualify a student for accommodations. Loyola carefully reviews all documentation to determine whether there is a significant discrepancy between measured cognitive ability and academic achievement. This review process is similar to the standards used by the ACT and College Board when determining eligibility for standardized testing accommodations.

When accommodations are approved, Loyola Academy develops an Academic Achievement Plan (AAP) that outlines the student's approved accommodations. The plan is shared with parents, counselors, and classroom teachers and may also be used to support future requests for accommodations on standardized tests.

 

Standardized Testing Accommodations

Students who receive accommodations at Loyola Academy may be eligible to request accommodations for standardized tests, including the ACT, PSAT, and SAT. Please note that both ACT and College Board make independent decisions regarding accommodation requests, and approval for accommodations at Loyola does not guarantee approval for standardized testing.

Because accommodation requests must be reviewed and approved by the testing organizations, families should begin the process as early as possible and carefully review all deadlines published by ACT and College Board.

Before You Begin

Please keep the following in mind before requesting accommodations:

  • ACT and College Board make independent decisions regarding accommodation requests.
  • Approval for accommodations at Loyola Academy does not guarantee approval for accommodations on standardized tests.
  • Accommodation requests should be submitted well in advance of registration and testing deadlines.
  • Families are responsible for reviewing ACT and College Board websites for the most current deadlines, requirements, and procedures.

For accommodations on the ACT, PSAT, or SAT—whether testing on a national test date or during a school-administered exam—please follow the appropriate process below.

ACT Accommodations

To request accommodations for the ACT, students should complete the following steps:

  1. Create an ACT account using their Loyola Academy student email address.
  2. Register for a national ACT test date. During registration, indicate that accommodations are being requested by selecting "Yes" under the National Extended Time section.
  3. Submit a signed Parent Consent Form to Loyola Academy at least one week prior to the ACT registration deadline.

Once the consent form has been received, Loyola Academy will submit any supporting documentation on file to ACT for review. Families will be notified once ACT has made a decision regarding the request.

SAT and PSAT Accommodations

To request accommodations for the SAT or PSAT, students should complete the following steps:

  1. Submit a signed Parent Consent Form to Loyola Academy as soon as accommodations are needed.
  2. Request accommodations through College Board. After receiving the consent form, Loyola Academy's Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) Coordinator will submit the student's information and supporting documentation through the College Board SSD system.

Students will receive notification of College Board's decision by mail. Approved accommodations can also be viewed through the College Board SSD portal. If you need a copy of your decision letter, please contact College Board SSD at 212-713-8333.

 

Supporting Student Success

At Loyola Academy, accommodations are designed to provide students with equitable access to learning and assessment while maintaining the rigor and expectations of a college preparatory education. Through collaboration among students, families, faculty, and support staff, we seek to create an environment where each student can fully engage in the academic experience and demonstrate their abilities.

Our goal is to ensure that students receive the support they need to thrive while developing the confidence, self-awareness, and skills necessary for success in high school, college, and beyond.