Test results vary

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ORTHINGTON — Southwest Minnesota’s results on the new Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments II science test varied, but in most schools, fewer than 50 percent of students did well enough to be considered proficient.

The Science MCA-II, given for the first time this spring to fifth-graders, eighth-graders and high-schoolers, are online, interactive tests covering scientific topics.

This year, the results will not be used to measure Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) as required by No Child Left Behind legislation.

The fifth and eighth grade tests are aligned to the Minnesota Academic Standards in Science and the high school level test assesses student proficiency in life science and the history and nature of science in a life science context.

“We’re relatively close to the state,” said John Landgaard, superintendent of District 518. “We’re not above the state average, but we’re not really that far below.”

District 518 fared poorly on the science tests overall, but its students didn’t have the lowest passing rate in the region in any of the three categories. Only 25.7 percent of fifth-graders, 23.6 percent of eighth-graders and 37.5 percent of high-schoolers passed the tests.

Landgaard said he was most concerned about the eighth-grade results, which were 14.6 percentage points below the state’s average. Many issues may have influenced the test results, he suggested, including student attitudes and the fact that it was the first time they had to take that type of test.

“Some of our struggles are related to language, or … some of those barriers that actually hinder standardized test-taking,” Landgaard said.

Another major issue impacting the test may have been previous standardized testing in reading and math, which is necessary to meet No Child Left Behind requirements.

It is possible, Landgaard said, that schools have pulled resources away from science, social studies and other areas of the curriculum in order to try to make AYP in reading and math.

Not making AYP can result in sanctions, loss of funding and other consequences.

One sign of hope for District 518 is that it changed its science curriculum only last year. Landgaard hopes the positive effect from the new materials will start showing up in the next few years.

Fifth-grade test results

Only 39.1 percent of Minnesota fifth-graders passed the science Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments II.

In southwest Minnesota, Ellsworth and the Worthington Area Language Academy did not have enough test scores to be statistically significant.

Hills-Beaver Creek 54.5

Murray County Central 54.1

Red Rock Central 46.7

Mountain Lake: 43.8

Luverne 43.6

Edgerton 43.5

Fulda 43.3

Brewster 40.9

State: 39.1

Windom 38.3

Pipestone 38.2

Westbrook-Walnut Grove 37.8

Heron Lake-Okabena 33.3

JCC 30.6

Worthington 25.7

Adrian 22

Eighth-grade test results

Only 38.2 percent of Minnesota eighth-graders passed the science Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments II.

In southwest Minnesota, the Worthington Area Language Academy did not have enough test scores to be statistically significant.

Adrian 65.4

Hills-BC 58.3

Luverne 54.5

Windom 49.2

Fulda 45.4

Mountain Lake 40.5

MCC 38.3

State 38.2

Pipestone 36.3

Round Lake 33.3

Westbrook-Walnut Grove 31.8

Edgerton 30.4

Heron Lake-Okabena 29.6

Red Rock Central 28.6

Jackson County Central 28.5

Worthington 23.6

Ellsworth 15.8

High school test results

Only 42.7 percent of Minnesota high-schoolers passed the science Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments II.

In southwest Minnesota, the Worthington Area Language Academy did not have enough test scores to be statistically significant.

Mountain Lake 73.3

Fulda 61.6

Hills-Beaver Creek 56.5

Luverne 55.9

Jackson County Central 54

Murray County Central 50

State 42.7

Windom 41.2

Red Rock Central 38.6

Worthington 37.5

Pipestone 37.3

Adrian 36.2

Edgerton 35.5

Round Lake 35.3

Heron Lake-Okabena 27.6

Ellsworth 25

Westbrook-Walnut Grove 20

Tags: news, education, mca-ii, science, district518