Educational Achievement Testing
In-office in Washington, DC's Friendship Heights
Educational testing gives you clear answers about how your child learns, and a plan for what comes next.
If your child is working hard but still struggling in school, or seems bored and under-challenged, educational testing can help explain why. At Maven Psychology Group, our licensed psychologists provide in-depth educational testing for children, teens, and young adults in the Washington, DC area. Rather than a quick screening or an online quiz, our education assessment looks closely at how your child reads, writes, does math, and solves problems, so you leave with real answers and a clear next step, not just a score.
Who Gets Educational Testing and Why
Gifted Education Test & Program Placement
If you're applying to a gifted and talented program, or your child's school is considering advanced placement, a gifted education test provides the ability and achievement scores many programs ask for. Testing gives you objective data to support a placement decision, rather than relying on classroom observation alone.
Learning Disorders
When a child struggles with reading, writing, or math despite effort and support, educational diagnostic tests can help show whether a specific learning disorder is part of the picture. Knowing your child's pattern of strengths and challenges helps you choose support that fits how they learn, instead of guessing at what might help.
A Gap Between Potential and Performance
Some students seem bright and capable, yet their grades or test scores don't match. Aptitude and achievement tests compare what your child can do with what they're showing at school. That gap is often the first clue that something, such as a learning difference, attention challenge, or anxiety, is getting in the way.
School Support, IEPs & 504 Plans
If your child's school has raised concerns, or you're asking for extra help, a detailed evaluation gives you written results and recommendations to share with the school team. Clear data makes it easier to ask for the right services.
Independent School & Other Placements
Many independent schools and specialized programs ask for current testing as part of admission. Educational testing can provide the ability and achievement information they need to understand your child.
ADHD-Related Learning Concerns
Attention and executive functioning often affect school performance. If ADHD is your main concern, ADHD testing covers that process in full detail. Educational testing is a good fit when learning and academic questions are the central focus, or when you want a fuller picture of how your child learns.
Types of Educational Tests
Clinical Interview & History Review
Every evaluation starts with a conversation. Your psychologist reviews your child's history, current concerns, and any school or medical records before testing begins. This shapes which tests are used and makes sure results are read in the context of your child's life, not just compared to a generic norm.
Achievement Tests
An achievement test measures what your child has learned in key school skills, such as reading, math, and written expression. Scores are compared to those of other children the same age or grade, which shows where your child is thriving and where they may need more support. Well-known tools include the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test (WIAT) and the Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement.
Aptitude and Achievement Tests
These tests measure learning potential alongside current academic skills. They're often used to explore giftedness, learning disorders, or a gap between a child's ability and their performance in the classroom.
Student Learning Assessments
Learning depends on more than knowing facts. These assessments look at skills that support school success, including memory, processing speed, attention, and how a child organizes ideas. They help explain why a task feels easy for some children and exhausting for others.
What to Expect from Educational Testing
Educational testing isn't about labeling your child, it's about understanding them. The process is clear and collaborative at every step.
Clinical interview. You meet with your psychologist to talk through your concerns, your child's history, and your goals.
Testing. Your child completes 1 to 2 days of standardized testing (2-4 hours of testing each day), tailored to your reasons for coming in.
Written report. Your psychologist scores the tests, interprets the results, and writes a detailed report.
Feedback session. You'll go over the results and recommendations together, and all of your questions are answered.
Your report can be shared with teachers, school teams, tutors, and other providers so everyone works from the same information.
Why Choose Maven
Maven's psychologists bring hands-on experience as school psychologists. That gives them added insight into how learning differences show up in real academic settings, from the classroom to standardized testing to individualized support planning. As an educational testing service built around families, we explain results in plain language and focus on practical next steps.
Meet Your Educational Testing Specialists
Two Maven clinicians bring school psychology training to educational evaluations, and both are currently accepting new clients for this service.
Currently accepting new clients.Dr. Hannah Sugarman, PhD, Licensed Psychologist in MD, Licensed School Psychologist in VA, Licensed Psychology Associate in DC
Dr. Hannah Sugarman conducts comprehensive psychological evaluations addressing autism, ADHD, educational needs, and mood and behavioral challenges in children and teens. Her assessments are built to bring clarity, not just a score. She earned her doctorate in School Psychology from Fordham University and is trained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). Dr. Sugarman has a particular interest in supporting LGBTQ-identifying clients and their families.
Currently accepting new clientsDr. Shannon Martin Dantzler, PhD, Licensed Psychology Associate in DC
Dr. Shannon Martin Dantzler is a licensed psychology associate with more than 15 years of experience supporting children, teens, adults, and families through evaluation and therapeutic care. Her assessment work addresses trauma, anxiety, OCD, ADHD, tic disorders, and emotion regulation, with an approach that's strength-based and culturally responsive. She earned her PhD in School Psychology from the University of Maryland, College Park, and is trained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT).
Frequently Asked Questions About Educational Testing
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The process starts with a clinical interview, followed by 1 to 2 days of standardized testing (2-4 hours of testing each day or tailored to your family’s schedule/needs). After that, your psychologist writes your report and schedules a feedback session to review the results. The exact schedule depends on the questions your evaluation needs to answer.
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An IQ test measures thinking and reasoning ability. An achievement test measures what a student has learned in school subjects like reading, writing, and math. Looking at both together shows whether a child's school performance matches their potential, which is why they're often combined.
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Not exactly. A gifted education test usually includes an IQ or ability measure, and it often adds achievement testing too. Many gifted programs want to see both.
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Many families reach out after a teacher or pediatrician raises a concern, but you can also contact us on your own. Book a free consultation and we'll help you decide if educational testing is the right fit.
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If your child's results meet the criteria for a learning disorder or another condition, your psychologist will explain the diagnosis in your feedback session and in the written report. Whether or not there's a diagnosis, you'll receive recommendations tailored to your child's strengths and needs.
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Yes. Your report documents your child's learning profile and recommends supports, which you can share with the school when requesting services such as an IEP or 504 plan. Schools and testing organizations make their own decisions about accommodations, but detailed results give you a strong starting point.
Educational Testing in Washington, DC
Maven Psychology Group offers in-person educational achievement testing at its Friendship Heights office in Washington, DC. If you're ready for real answers instead of more questions, reach out to schedule a free consultation.