Standardized tests have been the norm for decades, but I've watched my own students spiral into anxiety every spring, and I wonder if the data we get is worth the cost. After teaching for eight years, I've seen brilliant kids freeze on a single test while their project work shows deep understanding. The push for 'accountability' through testing has narrowed curricula, forcing teachers to drill rote skills that don't stick. Could we move to portfolio-based assessments that show growth over time, even if they're harder to grade? I'm not sure the system is ready for that shift, but the current obsession with test scores is failing our learners and our teachers alike.