Schools

How Did Your Child's School Perform on State Tests?

Burnsville Schools saw some declines that are likely due to new tests and changes to how students take tests. See how your student's school did in Patch's interactive database.

Some Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District 191 test results dropped slightly following changes to how students took the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA).

Students in third through eighth grade and 11th grade took the math test in the spring. While students took the math test twice in 2012 and kept their best results, they were only allowed to take the test once in 2013.

Math proficiency ranged from 44.4 percent for 11th grade to 66.1 percent for third graders. Most grades only saw small declines in math proficiency from 2012 to 2013 with 8th grade seeing the greatest declines at 9.1 percentage points. Scores increased in the 11th and 3rd grades.

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Statewide, there was a slight decline in math scores.

“We can be proud of the fact that Minnesota is a pioneer in setting high expectations for students, and in using online testing that give more timely information to teachers and parents,” a news release quoted Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius on Tuesday. “It’s important to look at today’s tests results for what they are: a snapshot in time that tells us how students are doing in mastering our state standards. What is needed now is to focus our efforts and stop moving the goal posts so teachers and students have a consistent target to hit.”

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  • Use the search tools above to compare how individual schools across the state did.

Scores from the reading test, which were administered to third through eighth grade and 10th grade, aren’t comparable because 2013 was the first time students took the new test. That test has more difficult reading passages and more challenging questions, along with higher expectations for what qualifies as “proficiency.”

That led to proficiency rates ranging from 45.8 percent for fourth graders to 59.4 percent for 10th graders. 

“Anytime a new test based on new standards is given, a drop in scores is to be expected,” said Cassellius. “But setting high expectations is the right thing to do. If we want our students to compete in a global economy, we must continue to stretch and hold ourselves accountable for helping students meet higher standards.”

The science test is in its second year. There were slight drops at the high school and 5th grade level and a one percentage increase for 8th grade.

With test results in, the next step is for the Department of Education to release adequately yearly progress results and ratings on proficiency, student growth, closing the achievement gap and graduation rates. That should happen Oct. 1.


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