Why Formative Assessment Matters

If it is formative, they will likely put less effort into the assignment because it doesn't “count” towards their final grade. The truth is, formative work is the foundation of deep learning. It’s where understanding develops, confidence grows, and students learn to take feedback and try again. It’s the 90% of the journey that happens—the rehearsals, the sketches, the scrimmages—before that final 10% when you perform, present, or play your game.

In drama, we spend weeks rehearsing before the curtain rises; in art, the creative process unfolds long before the final piece is displayed; in athletics, training and scrimmages take up most of the season before the championship. The same is true in learning; the process before the final demonstration of understanding is where the most growth happens.

According to the ASCD article “The Fundamentals of Formative Assessment” (2019), formative assessment “gives both teachers and students information about how learning is progressing while there is still time to improve.” Similarly, the Yale Poorvu Center for Teaching and Learning explains that formative assessments not only strengthen performance but also motivation, since “students see learning as an evolving process rather than a fixed outcome.” This idea aligns with several of Crescent’s character traits, such as growth mindset, self-awareness, critical thinking, and adaptability.

Formative assessment also fosters collaboration, another of Crescent’s defining character qualities. Whether it’s a group critique in art, a scene partner giving notes in drama, or teammates offering encouragement during practice, formative experiences rely on feedback and trust. These moments teach students to listen, adjust, and support one another, skills that extend well beyond the classroom.

As the Edutopia video “The Importance of Formative Assessment” (2020) notes, when teachers and students use ongoing feedback to guide next steps, “learning becomes an active partnership.” This is precisely the kind of learning environment we strive for at Crescent, where every task, discussion, and rehearsal is a meaningful step toward excellence.

Ultimately, formative assessment reminds us that the process matters most. The final product, whether it’s a test, performance, or game, is simply the visible result of countless moments of preparation, practice, and growth. When students realize that 90% of learning occurs in those formative moments, they come to understand that excellence is not a destination, but a habit built step by step, feedback by feedback, day by day.

Crescent celebrates this journey. Because in every rehearsal, every sketch, every draft, and every practice, our students are not just preparing for a performance, they’re becoming the thoughtful, resilient, and creative young men our Portrait of a Graduate envisions.