Schools

MN Test Scores Released: These High Schools Saw The Biggest Drops In Math

Fifteen Minnesota high schools saw math scores fall by 10 points or more. See which ones had the steepest declines, including in the metro.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Minnesota's 2026 state test results are in, and while statewide scores held mostly steady, some high schools saw their math scores tumble.

At one Twin Cities-area high school, the share of students meeting state math standards fell by nearly 20 percentage points in a single year.


ALSO READ: These High Schools Saw The Biggest Gains In Math

Find out what's happening in Saint Paulfor free with the latest updates from Patch.


In all, 15 Minnesota high schools saw math proficiency drop by 10 points or more from 2025 to 2026, according to accountability data released by the Minnesota Department of Education on Wednesday.

Nearly half of the 283 high schools analyzed saw at least some decline.

Find out what's happening in Saint Paulfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Statewide, 42.17 percent of students in all tested grades met math standards in 2026, down from 42.61 percent in 2025, according to MDE's data.

Here are the 15 Minnesota high schools with the largest drops in math proficiency from 2025 to 2026, per MDE data:

Note: Schools included have at least 100 students counted in both years

1. St. Francis High (St. Francis Area Schools): 43.9% to 24.2%, down 19.8 points

2. Spectrum High School (Spectrum High School charter): 46.6% to 27.1%, down 19.4 points

3. Higher Ground Academy Secondary (Higher Ground Academy charter): 38.7% to 21.7%, down 17 points

4. Underwood Secondary (Underwood Public Schools): 41% to 25.2%, down 15.8 points

5. Byron Senior High (Byron Public Schools): 53.2% to 37.9%, down 15.3 points

6. New Ulm High School (New Ulm Public Schools): 53.4% to 38.1%, down 15.3 points

7. Princeton High School (Princeton Public Schools): 45.6% to 30.5%, down 15.1 points

8. Fosston Secondary (Fosston Public Schools): 40.9% to 26.2%, down 14.8 points

9. Waconia High School (Waconia Public Schools): 39.4% to 25%, down 14.4 points

10. A.C.G.C. Secondary (A.C.G.C. Public Schools): 47.8% to 33.9%, down 13.9 points

11. Rogers Senior High (Elk River Area School District): 58.9% to 45.8%, down 13.2 points

12. Monticello Senior High (Monticello Public Schools): 39.5% to 27.4%, down 12.1 points

13. Mountain Iron-Buhl Secondary (Mountain Iron-Buhl Public Schools): 35.8% to 25.3%, down 10.5 points

14. Melrose Secondary (Melrose Public Schools): 53.9% to 43.9%, down 10 points

15. Zimmerman High School (Elk River Area School District): 45.6% to 35.6%, down 10 points

Twin Cities-Area High Schools With Drops

Beyond the statewide top 15, these metro-area high schools also saw math proficiency fall by 4 points or more:

Eastview Senior High (Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan): 57.1% to 47.5%, down 9.6 points

Andover High School (Anoka-Hennepin Schools): 42.5% to 33.5%, down 9 points

North Senior High (North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale Schools): 13.6% to 6.9%, down 6.7 points

Southwest High (Minneapolis Public Schools): 39.5% to 32.9%, down 6.7 points

Chanhassen High School (Eastern Carver County Schools): 23.7% to 17.3%, down 6.5 points

Math and Science Academy (charter): 69.3% to 62.9%, down 6.4 points

Robbinsdale Armstrong High School (Robbinsdale Area Schools): 23.2% to 17.5%, down 5.6 points

Mounds View High School (Mounds View Public Schools): 44.5% to 39%, down 5.5 points

Wayzata High School (Wayzata Public Schools): 53.5% to 48.1%, down 5.5 points

Eagle Ridge Academy (charter): 70.2% to 64.8%, down 5.4 points

Twin Cities Academy (charter): 11.7% to 6.3%, down 5.4 points

Simley High School (Inver Grove Heights Schools): 14.7% to 9.9%, down 4.8 points

Kennedy High School (Bloomington Public Schools): 15.5% to 11.4%, down 4.1 points

Osseo Senior High (Osseo Area Schools): 23% to 19%, down 4.1 points

South St. Paul High School (South St. Paul Public Schools): 20% to 16%, down 4 points

State Points To "Profound Disruption"

In announcing the results Wednesday, MDE said student performance on the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments remained stable across grade levels and subjects, despite a school year the department described as marked by profound disruption during Operation Metro Surge, the federal immigration enforcement operation in the Twin Cities area.

Students took the tests between March 2 and early May. Citing data compiled by the Minnesota Truth Council, MDE said three out of four schools reported increased absences during the operation, and 80 percent of public school leaders said it hurt students' ability to learn.

"We're asking more of our students and teachers," Education Commissioner Willie Jett said in a statement. "In this data, we see the hard work Minnesota educators are doing to create safe and supportive learning environments and implement new, rigorous standards."

MDE is also forming a 28-member Testing and Assessment Task Force to review Minnesota's testing system and recommend ways to modernize it.

How To Look Up Your School

Parents can find their school's results on the Minnesota Report Card here.

Click My School, type your school or district name in the search field and select it from the list to see how students did in math, reading and science over time.

The full accountability data used in this analysis is available in MDE's North Star file.

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.