Apple Valley Students Ahead of State Curve on MCA Tests

The statewide Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment tests for reading and math were recently revealed by the Minnesota Department of Education. The tests gauge whether or not students in multiple grade levels are meeting state academic standards in the schools.

Apple Valley students by and large excelled in reading assessments with nearly all grades and schools seeing improvement over 2010 numbers and scoring above the state average.

Students in grades 3-8 and 10 take the MCA-II for reading which has been administered since 2006.

Elementary students in Cedar Park, Greenleaf and Highland posted double-digit gains in proficiency in reading and nearly all grades and classes throughout Apple Valley schools were above the state average.

Eleventh-graders in Apple Valley and Eastview High Schools took the MCA-II math assessment with both schools seeing significant gains over the previous year. students came in 15 points higher than the state average while students can boast a 12-point positive differential.

Students in grades 3-8 were administered the new MCA-III math assessment this year. The MCA-III is designed to measure more rigorous standards and should not be compared to 2010 MCA-II results. Moving forward, the 2011 MCA-III results will provide a baseline measurement for future achievement.

That being said, Apple Valley students again predominantly outpaced the state average for those tests with 7^th-graders posting a 71.9 percent proficiency score. That figure is 20 points above the statewide 51.7 percent mark for 7^th-grade students in math.

and students appeared to struggle with the new math tests. Students in those schools finished predominantly below the state average.

“There was a major shift in the standards,” said Steve Troen, director of teaching and learning for Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan public schools. Troen said he expects scores to increase next year.

To view the complete breakdown of the math and reading scores by school and grade, click on the attached PDF file. The sheet shows the percentage of students in each school and grade that did not meet, partially met, met or exceeded the state standards. It also compares how each grade compares to the state average and, where applicable, to last year’s testing.