Woodbury Area Students Stay Ahead Of The Curve: Test Results

WOODBURY, MN — The release of the 2017 Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA) results indicate that overall, the students enrolled in South Washington County Schools continue to demonstrate a high level of proficiency, meeting or exceeding grade level expectations in reading, mathematics, and science, and performing above statewide proficiency rates. The MCAs are state mandated tests in reading, mathematics and science.

In the area of reading proficiency, overall District 833 proficiency levels decreased slightly by 1.6 percent, from 71.2 percent to 69.6 percent. However, it is higher than the state average of 60.1 percent.

“With the release of the 2017 MCA data, we will pause and reflect on the success we had during the 2016-17 school year,” said Brian Boothe, director of professional development and accountability, in a statement. “While this year’s results leave room for improvement, overall we believe we are on an upward trajectory in regard to student achievement.”

(For more local news, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts and newsletters from Minnesota Patch, click here to find your local Minnesota Patch. Also, follow us on Facebook , and if you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

For the past four years District 833 has seen either decreases or slight gains in mathematics results, according to a news release. This area of instruction will be receiving significant attention over the next few years with increased professional learning for staff, school officials announced.

In the area of science proficiency, overall District 833 proficiency levels declined slightly to 68.1 percent, but still continue to exceed state proficiency rates by a wide margin at all levels in science.

At the high school level, South Washington County Schools now ranks the highest performing district within comparison school districts with a 73 percent proficiency rate.

District 833 is also ranked 2nd in reading proficiency in comparison districts at the high school level with 73.1 percent, just behind Lakeville School District’s 74.2 percent.

“Test scores are just one part of the picture to understand how students are doing in Minnesota,” said Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius. “It’s frustrating to see test scores slowly increasing over time, but there’s more to providing a student with a well-rounded education than can be seen in a test.”

District staff will continue to review and analyze the MCA data as individual schools return to work for the 2017-18 school year. Parents can expect to receive a printed copy of their student’s results at or before conferences this fall.

Detailed results are available on the district’s website under Academics – Research, Evaluation and Assessment.

Image via Shutterstock