Schools

Mixed Results for Northfield's MCA Science Scores

ARTech, Prairie Creek Community School and Sibley Elementary improved on 2010's marks.

Northfield schools received mixed marks on spring state exams testing students in science proficiency.

The Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments—Series II, given annually to fifth-, eighth- and high-school students statewide, measures students' understanding of the relevant science curriculum up until that point.

Four of Northfield's tested groups of students exceeded 2010's proficiency rate. Those groups were fifth-graders at Sibley Elementary and Prairie Creek Community School and ARTech's eighth-grade class and high-school students.

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Northfield High School and Bridgewater Elementary students saw minor dips from 2010's proficiency levels. Northfield Middle School and Greenvale Park Elementary saw double-digit decreases compared to last year's marks.

Statewide, 2011's scores were relatively flat with 2010, with 46 percent of fifth-graders achieving proficiency, 44.4 percent of eighth-graders making the mark and 53.8 percent of high-schoolers achieving proficiency. All of Northfield's schools exceeded the state marks except for Greenvale. For comparisons, see the chart below.

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“The 2011 Science MCA-II results ... reinforce our need to approach science and math education with a sense of urgency,” Minnesota Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius said. “While we see some slight gains among some groups of students, they are not enough to ensure all of our kids will be able to compete in a global economy.”

This spring, a total of 179,219 students took the Science MCA-II, which measures student performance on Minnesota’s Academic Standards. The science standards define what students should know and be able to do in a particular grade and are developed in partnership with Minnesota educators, according to the MDE.

Cassellius said the mixed results may be a reflection of the transition from teaching the 2003 academic standards to teaching the new standards implemented in 2009. 2011 is the last year of administration of the Science MCA-II assessments based on the 2003 academic standards. The 2012 Science MCA-III assessments will be based on the 2009 academic standards.

As with other assessment results released this year, Cassellius noted the disparities in academic performance among various groups of students. She cited resources such as the STEM initiatives and Science/Math Teacher Academies as examples of best practice efforts that can be used more broadly to improve science instruction and overall student achievement.

“We continue to see a persistent disparity in achievement between students of color, students in poverty and their white counterparts,” Cassellius said. “This achievement gap reflects Minnesota’s urgent need to focus time, attention and resources to making sure all children achieve at high levels.”

Currently, results from the science assessment do not impact Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) Proficiency. Reading and Math MCA-II scores, which are used to calculate AYP under the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), will be released in mid- to late-September.

Earlier this week, Gov. Mark Dayton directed Commissioner Cassellius to apply for a federal waiver from some NCLB requirements in order to allow Minnesota to focus on locally developed reform and improvement efforts, without the sanctions that come from the federal mandates. 


MCA-II Science Results*

School Grade D P M E 2011 Proficiency 2011 State 2010 Proficiency 2010 State HS 10.5 21.3 53.4 14.8 68.2 53.8 68.5 51.8 8 24.2 27.1 30.8 17.9 48.7 44.4 59.2 47.9 5 30.6 36.5 30.6 2.4 33 46 48.9 46 5 19 29.1 46.8 5.1 51.9 46 52.5 46 5 12.5 30 50 7.5 57.5 46 50 46 5 6.7 26.7 60 6.7 66.7 46 32 46 8 6.7 20 26.7 46.7 63.4 44.4 42.1 47.9 HS 0 20 73.3 6.7 80 53.8 57.1 51.8 Cannon River Stem School 5 27.3 40.9 27.3 4.5 31.8 46 57.9 46 Jefferson Elem. (Faribault) 5 34.5 37.9 24.1 3.4 27.5 46 35 46 Lincoln Elem. (Faribault) 5 37.4 33 28.6 1.1 29.7 46 32.7 46 Roosevlent Elem. (Faribault) 5 34.3 36.2 26.7 2.9 29.6 46 28.6 46 Faribault Middle School 8 25.4 40.4 27.5 6.8 34.3 44.4 36.4 47.9 Faribault High School HS 12.2 36.3 47.7 3.8 51.5 53.8 58.4 51.8

* In percentages, rounded to the nearest tenth.

Key

D=Did not meet expectations; P=Partially meets expectations; M=Meets expectations; E=Exceeds expectations


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