Of top 10 largest school districts in state, local district finished first in math
The Elk River Area School District has earned a spot among the best in the state when it comes to proficiency in math, based on the 2015-16 Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment exams.
The district also continues to outpace the state average when it comes to test scores in reading and science.
The Minnesota Department of Education released the MCA III exam results on July 28. The comprehensive assessments check proficiency in the three core subjects for educators across elementary, middle and high school levels.
Jana Hennen-Burr, the assistant superintendent of educational services, said the results are exciting and something to be proud of as a school district.
“The student success is a sign of our success as a team of educators,” Hennen-Burr said in a press release issued by the school district. “We’re proud, as a leadership team, that our teachers are putting our students in a position to achieve and truly thrive.”
Out of the top 10 largest school districts in Minnesota, District 728 placed first in overall math scores. The district’s average score of 72.9 percent proficient topped the state average by 13.5 percent and is a 2 percent rise under the current testing format adopted in 2013. Though it’s a very slight drop from 2015, it was on pace with a statewide drop in MCA math scores.
In a larger trend, the state meanwhile, has seen a 2 percent drop in its average scores since 2013, widening the gap between District 728 students and the Minnesota average.
“While we’re more than 13 points clear of the state in proficiency, what’s exciting is the number of students exceeding that proficiency mark in math,” Joe Stangler, District 728 director of research and assessment, said. “Nearly 36 percent of our kids who take the test are exceeding proficiency standards. Statewide, that number’s at just over 25 percent. So we’re seeing many of our students in that top performance category.”
Seventh-graders made the biggest jump in math scores, where they have an 18.2 point advantage over their peers statewide. More than 74 percent of seventh-graders in the district’s middle schools were proficient on the MCA or better, a jump of more than 6 points over 2015’s score, which was at its highest point from 2013.
That trend didn’t drop off in eighth grade, either, where there’s a 19.6 point margin between the Elk River Area School District and the state average.
Reading scores
News was also good in reading, where the district improved overall to nearly 69 percent of students meeting or exceeding proficiency standards. That’s the highest point in district history, and 9-point margin over the state’s average, also a district record.
The gap between District 728 and the state appears as early as fourth grade, where nearly 70 percent of kids are proficient on their exam or better. Statewide that number’s down at 58.3 percent.
The disparity continues, with more than 66 percent of students successful on their reading exams in eighth grade, compared to just 57 percent statewide. That’s puts ISD 728 9 points ahead of averages.
And of the state’s 10 largest school districts, ISD 728 was third in reading proficiency.
Science scores
Middle school students continue to lead the pace in science assessments, as well, with more than 62 percent of fifth-graders proficient or better on their MCA exam versus just 47 percent statewide. Overall the district topped the state by more than 10 percentage points, with 65.1 proficient or better.
District 728 jumped 2.2 percent from 2015 and is up nearly six points since 2013 exams. The state, meanwhile, was up 1.7 percent year-over-year and is up just 2.6 percent since 2013.
“We continue to distance ourselves from state averages in a good way,” Stangler said. “That’s a testament to the system we have of identifying areas where we can grow and putting the right tools into the classroom.”
More Information
Families and parents, as well as community members can drill deeper into MCA test results on the Minnesota Department of Education’s website. Readers can find building-by-building results, as well as grade-by-grade breakdowns. There are also results sorted via ethnic groups as defined by the U.S. Department of Education.