In 1982 the Dade County Public Schools (Florida) began developing test item banks for secondary subject areas, because other testing programs have limited utility for assessing the quality of curriculum, instruction, or learning in specific content areas. In May l984, the approximately 17,000 seventh graders enrolled in Life Science and the approximately 10,500 eighth to twelfth graders enrolled in Algebra I were tested using two forms of these objectives based multiple choice tests. This report summarizes the results in three ways: (1) districtwide results by total score and by major objective; (2) the pattern of school-by-school results; and (3) the extent to which schools' subject area results differ beyond that "expected" on the basis of the types and backgrounds of the students enrolled. The average percentage correct on the Life Science test was approximately 46. The average percentage correct on the Algebra I test was approximately 55. Recommendations based on these low results include a thorough program review in both curriculum areas. (BS)