Greetings, School Board members~
The results of the 2010-2011 Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA) science test will be publicly released tomorrow, August 12th. The MCA Science is an online test given to students in grades 5, 8, and once in high school. It is designed to help districts measure progress toward meeting Minnesota’s academic standards, as required by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). The MCA science results for the state, district, and individual schools are attached.
Here are a few themes from the data:
Scores for grades 5, 8, and high school decreased 3, 5, and 6 percentage points, respectively, over last year’s scores.
Oh my God!
Each grade level scored below the state average.
No wonder Dixon hightailed it out of town.
Seven schools scored above the state average (Congdon, Homecroft, Lakewood, Lester Park, Lowell, Woodland, East).
Meaning that the other 7 or so schools scored below the State average.
Three schools made gains over last year’s scores (Congdon, Nettleton, Lowell).
Meaning that the other 11 or so schools saw no improvement or declined.
American Indian students scored above the state average and made gains over last year’s scores in grade 5.
Meaning that American Indian students scored below the state average in grade eight and in high school.
Asian students scored above the state average in grade 5 and high school.
Meaning that Asian students scored below the state average in grade 8.
Black students scored above the state and made gains over last year’s scores in grade 8.
Meaning that Black students scored below the state average and declined from last years scores in grade 5 and in high school.
Hispanic students scored above the state average and made gains over last year’s scores in all three grade levels (grade 5, grade 8 and high school).
Meaning success for the District’s smallest ethnic minority.
Students receiving special education services made gains over last year’s scores in grade 5.
Meaning that Special education student’s test scores declined in grade 8 and in high school
Note: The MCA-II science test does not yet match the current MN academic standards. Next spring, with the launch of the new MCA-III science test, the standards and the expectations will be aligned. MDE noted that this transition may have an impact of this year’s test scores statewide. District administrators, principals, teachers, and other educational staff will carefully study this data and use it to review curriculum and inform instruction.
Respectfully,
Tawnyea L. Lake, PhD, NCSP
Director of Assessment, Evaluation, and Performance
Duluth Public Schools
