Science California Science Test (CAST)

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Research Files

2025–26 Fixed-Length* Research Files Record Definitions

The Fixed-Length* Research Files Record Definitions page provides the following information:

Type Legend — data format of individual data fields
Entities File Layout — layout of entity file data fields
Research File Layout — layout of research file data fields
Table A — Student Groups
Table B — Grades
Table C — Test IDs and Names

PLEASE NOTE:

Statewide research files for test administration years 2019–20 and later are available in two formats: fixed-width and caret-delimited. For 2018–19 and prior years, statewide research files are available in fixed-width and comma-delimited formats.
Countywide and districtwide research files for test administration years 2023–24 and later are available in two formats: fixed-width and caret-delimited. File formats for previous-year test administrations are either caret-delimited (2020–21 to 2022–23) or comma-delimited (2018–19 and prior years).
All research files contain the data for entities composing the level of that file.
The research file layouts in Excel format are only available beginning with 2023–24 administration year.

Report Options

Select Year

Type Legend

Type	Description
T	Alphabetic text (letters only)
A	Alphanumeric text (letters and numbers allowed)
N	Number (numbers only)
SA	Alphanumeric with left-filled spaces
AS	Alphanumeric with right-filled spaces
ZA	Alphanumeric with left-filled zeroes
AZ	Alphanumeric with right-filled zeroes
ZN	Numeric with left-filled zeroes
NZ	Numeric with right-filled zeroes
SN	Numeric with left-filled spaces
NS	Numeric with right-filled spaces
4Y	4-digit year

Entities File Layout

Field #	Data Element	Type Legend	Length	Start Position	End Position	Column Header for Caret Delimited (CSV) Research file
1	County Code	ZN	2	1	2	County Code
2	District Code	ZN	5	3	7	District Code
3	School Code	ZN	7	8	14	School Code
4	Type ID (04 = State 05 = County 06 = District 07 = School 09 = Direct Funded Charter School 10 = Locally Funded Charter School)	ZN	2	15	16	Type ID
5	Filler	AS	4	17	20	Filler
6	Test Year	4Y	4	21	24	Test Year
7	County Name	AS	25	25	49	County Name
8	District Name	AS	40	50	89	District Name
9	School Name	AS	60	90	149	School Name
10	School Zip Code	AS	9	150	158	Zip Code

The entity file created is comprised of state, all tested counties, districts, and schools in California

Research File Layout

Field #	Data Element	Type Legend	Length	Start Position	End Position	Column Header for Caret Delimited (CSV) Research file
1	County Code	ZN	2	1	2	County Code
2	District Code	ZN	5	3	7	District Code
3	District Name	AS	40	8	47	District Name
4	School Code	ZN	7	48	54	School Code
5	School Name	AS	60	55	114	School Name
6	Type ID (04 = State 05 = County 06 = District 07 = School 09 = Direct Funded Charter School 10 = Locally Funded Charter School)	ZN	2	115	116	Type ID
7	Filler	AS	4	117	120	Filler
8	Test Year	4Y	4	121	124	Test Year
9	Test Type(X = CAST (California Science Test))	AS	1	125	125	Test Type
10	Test ID(Detailed listing provided below – Table C)	ZN	2	126	127	Test ID
11	Student Group ID(Detailed listing provided below – Table A)	ZN	3	128	130	Student Group ID
12	Grade(Detailed listing provided below – Table B)	ZN	2	131	132	Grade
13	Total Students Enrolled	SA	9	133	141	Total Students Enrolled
14	Total Students Tested	SA	9	142	150	Total Students Tested
15	Total Students Tested With Scores	SA	9	151	159	Total Students Tested with Scores
16	Mean Scale Score	SA	6	160	165	Mean Scale Score
17	Percentage Advanced	SA	6	166	171	Percentage Advanced
18	Count Advanced	SA	9	172	180	Count Advanced
19	Percentage Proficient	SA	6	181	186	Percentage Proficient
20	Count Proficient	SA	9	187	195	Count Proficient
21	Percentage Proficient and Advanced	SA	6	196	201	Percentage Proficient and Advanced
22	Count Proficient and Advanced	SA	9	202	210	Count Proficient and Advanced
23	Percentage Developing	SA	6	211	216	Percentage Developing
24	Count Developing	SA	9	217	225	Count Developing
25	Percentage Minimal	SA	6	226	231	Percentage Minimal
26	Count Minimal	SA	9	232	240	Count Minimal
27	Overall Total	SA	9	241	249	Overall Total
28	Life Sciences Domain Percent Below Proficient	SA	6	250	255	Life Sciences Domain Percent Below Proficient
29	Life Sciences Domain Count Below Proficient	SA	9	256	264	Life Sciences Domain Count Below Proficient
30	Life Sciences Domain Percent At or Near Proficient	SA	6	265	270	Life Sciences Domain Percent At or Near Proficient
31	Life Sciences Domain Count At or Near Proficient	SA	9	271	279	Life Sciences Domain Count At or Near Proficient
32	Life Sciences Domain Percent Above Proficient	SA	6	280	285	Life Sciences Domain Percent Above Proficient
33	Life Sciences Domain Count Above Proficient	SA	9	286	294	Life Sciences Domain Count Above Proficient
34	Life Sciences Domain Total	SA	9	295	303	Life Sciences Domain Total
35	Physical Sciences Domain Percent Below Proficient	SA	6	304	309	Physical Sciences Domain Percent Below Proficient
36	Physical Sciences Domain Count Below Proficient	SA	9	310	318	Physical Sciences Domain Count Below Proficient
37	Physical Sciences Domain Percent At or Near Proficient	SA	6	319	324	Physical Sciences Domain Percent At or Near Proficient
38	Physical Sciences Domain Count At or Near Proficient	SA	9	325	333	Physical Sciences Domain Count At or Near Proficient
39	Physical Sciences Domain Percent Above Proficient	SA	6	334	339	Physical Sciences Domain Percent Above Proficient
40	Physical Sciences Domain Count Above Proficient	SA	9	340	348	Physical Sciences Domain Count Above Proficient
41	Physical Sciences Domain Total	SA	9	349	357	Physical Sciences Domain Total
42	Earth and Space Sciences Domain Percent Below Proficient	SA	6	358	363	Earth and Space Sciences Domain Percent Below Proficient
43	Earth and Space Sciences Domain Count Below Proficient	SA	9	364	372	Earth and Space Sciences Domain Count Below Proficient
44	Earth and Space Sciences Domain Percent At or Near Proficient	SA	6	373	378	Earth and Space Sciences Domain Percent At or Near Proficient
45	Earth and Space Sciences Domain Count At or Near Proficient	SA	9	379	387	Earth and Space Sciences Domain Count At or Near Proficient
46	Earth and Space Sciences Domain Percent Above Proficient	SA	6	388	393	Earth and Space Sciences Domain Percent Above Proficient
47	Earth and Space Sciences Domain Count Above Proficient	SA	9	394	402	Earth and Space Sciences Domain Count Above Proficient
48	Earth and Space Sciences Domain Total	SA	9	403	411	Earth and Space Sciences Domain Total

Field #	Data Element	Type Legend	Length	Start Position	End Position	Column Header for Caret Delimited (CSV) Research file
1	County Code	ZA	2	1	2	County Code
2	District Code	ZA	5	3	7	District Code
3	School Code	ZA	7	8	14	School Code
4	Filler	ZA	4	15	18	Filler
5	Test Year	4Y	4	19	22	Test Year
6	Student Group ID(Detailed listing provided below – Table A)	ZN	3	23	25	Student Group ID
7	Test Type(X = CAST (California Science Test))	A	1	26	26	Test Type
8	Total Tested at Reporting Level	SN	7	27	33	Total Tested at Reporting Level
9	Total Tested with Scores at Reporting Level	SN	7	34	40	Total Tested with Scores at Reporting Level
10	Grade(Detailed listing provided below – Table B)	ZN	2	41	42	Grade
11	Test ID(Detailed listing provided below – Table C)	ZN	2	43	44	Test ID
12	Students Enrolled	SN	7	45	51	Students Enrolled
13	Students Tested	SN	7	52	58	Students Tested
14	Mean Scale Score	SN	6	59	64	Mean Scale Score
15	Percentage Standard Exceeded	SN	6	65	70	Percentage Standard Exceeded
16	Percentage Standard Met	SN	6	71	76	Percentage Standard Met
17	Percentage Standard Met and Above	SN	6	77	82	Percentage Standard Met and Above
18	Percentage Standard Nearly Met	SN	6	83	88	Percentage Standard Nearly Met
19	Percentage Standard Not Met	SN	6	89	94	Percentage Standard Not Met
20	Students with Scores	SN	7	95	101	Students with Scores
21	Life Sciences Domain Percent Below Standard	SN	6	102	107	Life Sciences Domain Percent Below Standard
22	Life Sciences Domain Percent Near Standard	SN	6	108	113	Life Sciences Domain Percent Near Standard
23	Life Sciences Domain Percent Above Standard	SN	6	114	119	Life Sciences Domain Percent Above Standard
24	Physical Sciences Domain Percent Below Standard	SN	6	120	125	Physical Sciences Domain Percent Below Standard
25	Physical Sciences Domain Percent Near Standard	SN	6	126	131	Physical Sciences Domain Percent Near Standard
26	Physical Sciences Domain Percent Above Standard	SN	6	132	137	Physical Sciences Domain Percent Above Standard
27	Earth and Space Sciences Domain Percent Below Standard	SN	6	138	143	Earth and Space Sciences Domain Percent Below Standard
28	Earth and Space Sciences Domain Percent Near Standard	SN	6	144	149	Earth and Space Sciences Domain Percent Near Standard
29	Earth and Space Sciences Domain Percent Above Standard	SN	6	150	155	Earth and Space Sciences Domain Percent Above Standard
30	Type ID (04 = State 05 = County 06 = District 07 = School 09 = Direct Funded Charter School 10 = Locally Funded Charter School)	ZN	2	156	157	Type ID

Field #	Data Element	Type Legend	Length	Start Position	End Position	Column Header for Caret Delimited (CSV) Research file
1	County Code	ZA	2	1	2	County Code
2	District Code	ZA	5	3	7	District Code
3	School Code	ZA	7	8	14	School Code
4	Filler	ZA	4	15	18	Filler
5	Test Year	4Y	4	19	22	Test Year
6	Student Group ID(Detailed listing provided below – Table A)	ZN	3	23	25	Student Group ID
7	Test Type(X = CAST (California Science Test))	A	1	26	26	Test Type
8	Total Tested at Reporting Level	SN	7	27	33	Total Tested at Reporting Level
9	Total Tested with Scores at Reporting Level	SN	7	34	40	Total Tested with Scores at Reporting Level
10	Grade(Detailed listing provided below – Table B)	ZN	2	41	42	Grade
11	Test ID(Detailed listing provided below – Table C)	ZN	2	43	44	Test ID
12	Students Enrolled	SN	7	45	51	Students Enrolled
13	Students Tested	SN	7	52	58	Students Tested
14	Mean Scale Score	SN	6	59	64	Mean Scale Score
15	Percentage Standard Exceeded	SN	6	65	70	Percentage Standard Exceeded
16	Percentage Standard Met	SN	6	71	76	Percentage Standard Met
17	Percentage Standard Met and Above	SN	6	77	82	Percentage Standard Met and Above
18	Percentage Standard Nearly Met	SN	6	83	88	Percentage Standard Nearly Met
19	Percentage Standard Not Met	SN	6	89	94	Percentage Standard Not Met
20	Students with Scores	SN	7	95	101	Students with Scores
21	Life Sciences Domain Percent Below Standard	SN	6	102	107	Life Sciences Domain Percent Below Standard
22	Life Sciences Domain Percent Near Standard	SN	6	108	113	Life Sciences Domain Percent Near Standard
23	Life Sciences Domain Percent Above Standard	SN	6	114	119	Life Sciences Domain Percent Above Standard
24	Physical Sciences Domain Percent Below Standard	SN	6	120	125	Physical Sciences Domain Percent Below Standard
25	Physical Sciences Domain Percent Near Standard	SN	6	126	131	Physical Sciences Domain Percent Near Standard
26	Physical Sciences Domain Percent Above Standard	SN	6	132	137	Physical Sciences Domain Percent Above Standard
27	Earth and Space Sciences Domain Percent Below Standard	SN	6	138	143	Earth and Space Sciences Domain Percent Below Standard
28	Earth and Space Sciences Domain Percent Near Standard	SN	6	144	149	Earth and Space Sciences Domain Percent Near Standard
29	Earth and Space Sciences Domain Percent Above Standard	SN	6	150	155	Earth and Space Sciences Domain Percent Above Standard
30	Type ID (04 = State 05 = County 06 = District 07 = School 09 = Direct Funded Charter School 10 = Locally Funded Charter School)	ZN	2	156	157	Type ID

Field #	Data Element	Type Legend	Length	Start Position	End Position	Column Header for Caret Delimited (CSV) Research file
1	County Code	ZA	2	1	2	County Code
2	District Code	ZA	5	3	7	District Code
3	School Code	ZA	7	8	14	School Code
4	Filler	ZA	4	15	18	Filler
5	Test Year	4Y	4	19	22	Test Year
6	Student Group ID(Detailed listing provided below – Table A)	ZN	3	23	25	Student Group ID
7	Test Type(X = CAST (California Science Test))	A	1	26	26	Test Type
8	Total Tested at Reporting Level	SN	7	27	33	Total Tested at Reporting Level
9	Total Tested with Scores at Reporting Level	SN	7	34	40	Total Tested with Scores at Reporting Level
10	Grade(Detailed listing provided below – Table B)	ZN	2	41	42	Grade
11	Test ID(Detailed listing provided below – Table C)	ZN	2	43	44	Test ID
12	Students Enrolled	SN	7	45	51	Students Enrolled
13	Students Tested	SN	7	52	58	Students Tested
14	Mean Scale Score	SN	6	59	64	Mean Scale Score
15	Percentage Standard Exceeded	SN	6	65	70	Percentage Standard Exceeded
16	Percentage Standard Met	SN	6	71	76	Percentage Standard Met
17	Percentage Standard Met and Above	SN	6	77	82	Percentage Standard Met and Above
18	Percentage Standard Nearly Met	SN	6	83	88	Percentage Standard Nearly Met
19	Percentage Standard Not Met	SN	6	89	94	Percentage Standard Not Met
20	Students with Scores	SN	7	95	101	Students with Scores
21	Life Sciences Domain Percent Below Standard	SN	6	102	107	Life Sciences Domain Percent Below Standard
22	Life Sciences Domain Percent Near Standard	SN	6	108	113	Life Sciences Domain Percent Near Standard
23	Life Sciences Domain Percent Above Standard	SN	6	114	119	Life Sciences Domain Percent Above Standard
24	Physical Sciences Domain Percent Below Standard	SN	6	120	125	Physical Sciences Domain Percent Below Standard
25	Physical Sciences Domain Percent Near Standard	SN	6	126	131	Physical Sciences Domain Percent Near Standard
26	Physical Sciences Domain Percent Above Standard	SN	6	132	137	Physical Sciences Domain Percent Above Standard
27	Earth and Space Sciences Domain Percent Below Standard	SN	6	138	143	Earth and Space Sciences Domain Percent Below Standard
28	Earth and Space Sciences Domain Percent Near Standard	SN	6	144	149	Earth and Space Sciences Domain Percent Near Standard
29	Earth and Space Sciences Domain Percent Above Standard	SN	6	150	155	Earth and Space Sciences Domain Percent Above Standard
30	Type ID (04 = State 05 = County 06 = District 07 = School 09 = Direct Funded Charter School 10 = Locally Funded Charter School)	ZN	2	156	157	Type ID

Field #	Data Element	Type Legend	Length	Start Position	End Position	Column Header for Comma Delimited (CSV) Research file
1	County Code	ZA	2	1	2	County Code
2	District Code	ZA	5	3	7	District Code
3	School Code	ZA	7	8	14	School Code
4	Filler	ZA	4	15	18	Filler
5	Test Year	4Y	4	19	22	Test Year
6	Demographic ID(Detailed listing provided below – Table A)	ZN	3	23	25	Demographic ID
7	Test Type(X = CAST (California Science Test))	A	1	26	26	Test Type
8	Total Number Tested at Entity Level and Demographic	SN	7	27	33	Total Number Tested at Entity Level and Demographic
9	Total Number Tested at this Demographic with Valid Scores	SN	7	34	40	Total Number Tested at this Demographic with Valid Scores
10	Grade(Detailed listing provided below – Table B)	ZN	2	41	42	Grade
11	Test ID(Detailed listing provided below – Table C)	ZN	2	43	44	Test ID
12	CAST Reported Enrollment	SN	7	45	51	CAST Reported Enrollment
13	Total Number of Students Tested	SN	7	52	58	Total Number of Students Tested
14	Mean Scale Score	SN	6	59	64	Mean Scale Score
15	Percentage Standard Exceeded	SN	6	65	70	Percentage Standard Exceeded
16	Percentage Standard Met	SN	6	71	76	Percentage Standard Met
17	Percentage Standard Met and Above	SN	6	77	82	Percentage Standard Met and Above
18	Percentage Standard Nearly Met	SN	6	83	88	Percentage Standard Nearly Met
19	Percentage Standard Not Met	SN	6	89	94	Percentage Standard Not Met
20	Total Number of Students with Valid Scores	SN	7	95	101	Total Number of Students with Valid Scores
21	Life Sciences Domain Percent Below Standard	SN	6	102	107	Life Sciences Domain Percent Below Standard
22	Life Sciences Domain Percent Near Standard	SN	6	108	113	Life Sciences Domain Percent Near Standard
23	Life Sciences Domain Percent Above Standard	SN	6	114	119	Life Sciences Domain Percent Above Standard
24	Physical Sciences Domain Percent Below Standard	SN	6	120	125	Physical Sciences Domain Percent Below Standard
25	Physical Sciences Domain Percent Near Standard	SN	6	126	131	Physical Sciences Domain Percent Near Standard
26	Physical Sciences Domain Percent Above Standard	SN	6	132	137	Physical Sciences Domain Percent Above Standard
27	Earth and Space Sciences Domain Percent Below Standard	SN	6	138	143	Earth and Space Sciences Domain Percent Below Standard
28	Earth and Space Sciences Domain Percent Near Standard	SN	6	144	149	Earth and Space Sciences Domain Percent Near Standard
29	Earth and Space Sciences Domain Percent Above Standard	SN	6	150	155	Earth and Space Sciences Domain Percent Above Standard

Table A — Student Groups

Student Group	Student Group Name	Student Group ID
All Students	All Students	001
Disability Status	Reported disabilities	128
Disability Status	No reported disabilities	099
Economic Status	Socioeconomically disadvantaged	031
Economic Status	Not socioeconomically disadvantaged	111
English-Language Fluency	IFEP, RFEP, and EO (Fluent English proficient and English only)	006
English-Language Fluency	IFEP (Initial fluent English proficient)	007
English-Language Fluency	RFEP (Reclassified fluent English proficient)	008
English-Language Fluency	ELs enrolled less than 12 months	120
English-Language Fluency	ELs enrolled 12 months or more	142
English-Language Fluency	EL (English learner, excluding RFEP)	160
English-Language Fluency	ADEL (Adult English learner)	243
English-Language Fluency	EO (English only)	180
English-Language Fluency	Ever–EL	170
English-Language Fluency	LTEL (Long-Term English learner)	250
English-Language Fluency	AR–LTEL (At-Risk of becoming LTEL)	251
English-Language Fluency	Never–EL	252
English-Language Fluency	TBD (To be determined)	190
Race and Ethnicity	American Indian or Alaska Native	075
Race and Ethnicity	Asian	076
Race and Ethnicity	Black or African American	074
Race and Ethnicity	Filipino	077
Race and Ethnicity	Hispanic or Latino	078
Race and Ethnicity	Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander	079
Race and Ethnicity	White	080
Race and Ethnicity	Two or more races	144
Ethnicity for Socioeconomically Disadvantaged	American Indian or Alaska Native	201
Ethnicity for Socioeconomically Disadvantaged	Asian	202
Ethnicity for Socioeconomically Disadvantaged	Black or African American	200
Ethnicity for Socioeconomically Disadvantaged	Filipino	203
Ethnicity for Socioeconomically Disadvantaged	Hispanic or Latino	204
Ethnicity for Socioeconomically Disadvantaged	Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander	205
Ethnicity for Socioeconomically Disadvantaged	White	206
Ethnicity for Socioeconomically Disadvantaged	Two or more races	207
Ethnicity for Not Socioeconomically Disadvantaged	American Indian or Alaska Native	221
Ethnicity for Not Socioeconomically Disadvantaged	Asian	222
Ethnicity for Not Socioeconomically Disadvantaged	Black or African American	220
Ethnicity for Not Socioeconomically Disadvantaged	Filipino	223
Ethnicity for Not Socioeconomically Disadvantaged	Hispanic or Latino	224
Ethnicity for Not Socioeconomically Disadvantaged	Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander	225
Ethnicity for Not Socioeconomically Disadvantaged	White	226
Ethnicity for Not Socioeconomically Disadvantaged	Two or more races	227
Gender	Female	004
Gender	Male	003
Migrant	Migrant education	028
Migrant	Not migrant education	029
Parent Education	Not a high school graduate	090
Parent Education	High school graduate	091
Parent Education	Some college (includes AA degree)	092
Parent Education	College graduate	093
Parent Education	Graduate school/Postgraduate	094
Parent Education	Declined to state	121
Military Status	Armed forces family member	050
Military Status	Not armed forces family member	051
Homeless Status	Homeless	052
Homeless Status	Not homeless	053
Foster Status	Foster youth	240
Foster Status	Not foster youth	241

Table B — Grades

Grade	Description
05	Grade 5
08	Grade 8
10	Grade 10
11	Grade 11
12	Grade 12
13	All Grades(Includes Grades 05, 08, 10, 11 and 12)
14	All High School (Includes Grades 10, 11 and 12)
99	High School Class of [Year] ([Year] = Graduating Year)

Table C — Test IDs and Names

Test ID	Test Name
17	CAST (California Science Test)

* - Some filler fields are omitted from the .CSV versions of these files.