A portfolio is a representative collection of an individual student's work. Portfolios originated in the fine arts area where performers and artists used them to showcase their accomplishments. A student portfolio is generally composed of that student's best work to date as well as one or two "works in progress" that demonstrate the process leading to the product.

A portfolio gives a reasonably complete assessment of a student's strengths and weaknesses over time. The students can show their knowledge, skills and abilities in a variety of different ways that are not dependent upon traditional media such as exams and essays.

A portfolio is dynamic and can represent not only the student in the present but also the growth and development in the student over time. As a constantly growing and changing collection a portfolio is always current and is not dependent upon reporting periods, grades or years.