Local students do well on state tests

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Students in Alexandria School District 206 fared well in the latest round of state testing.

A glance at the results of Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA) reading and math scores reveal that Alexandria School District 206 students continue to outperform their Minnesota peers in proficiency, as well as nine regional school districts with comparable demographics, according to District 206 leaders.

“We’re celebrating right now,” said Julie Critz, director of Teaching and Learning. “As a school system, we are so excited and proud of our students’ performance on the 2012 MCA tests. We feel this is a reflection of the hard work of our staff to ensure we are meeting the needs of individual students.”

Some high points from the data show that:

--Alexandria students exceeded the statewide proficiency averages for all eight grades tested in spring 2012 (grades 3-8, 10 and 11) in reading and math tests.

--Alexandria students’ reading proficiency scores rank in the top three amongst other regional school districts with comparable demographics across all grade levels tested.

--Alexandria students’ math proficiency scores rank in the top three amongst other regional school districts with comparable demographics across all grade levels tested, with the exception of 5th grade math, where it ranks in fifth place.

--Alexandria students rank first in comparison to other regional school districts with comparable demographics across several grade and subject areas – grade 3 reading and math, grade 4 reading, grade 6 reading and math, grade 7 math, grade 10 reading, and grade 11 math.

“We will be looking closely at grade level test results to identify improvement areas as part of our annual planning process,” said Critz.

Results for individual students will be mailed to parents in the fall.

The schools District 206 uses for regional comparison include Bemidji, Brainerd, Cambridge, Detroit Lakes, Fergus Falls, Little Falls, Moorhead, Sauk Rapids and Willmar.

STATEWIDE RESULTS

Statewide results show that students in grades 3-8 are making gains in reading and math.

Minnesota Commissioner of Education Brenda Cassellius pointed to a 2 point overall gain in 3rd grade reading scores and even larger gains in math among the state’s 7th and 8th graders. Grade 7 increased from 50.9 to 57.2 percent proficient and grade 8 increased from 52.6 to 60.7 percent proficient.

The increase in reading scores comes two years after adoption of more rigorous 2010 reading standards as well as a strategic focus on reading well by 3rd grade spearheaded by Governor Mark Dayton and Cassellius.

“The upward trends we’re seeing show that we are on the right path to prepare our students for success,” said Cassellius. “As teachers, principals and districts continue to sharpen their focus on reading well by 3rd grade, I believe we’ll continue to see even greater gains across all grade levels as time goes on.”

Assessment results also showed increased proficiency in grades 3-8 math MCA scores, particularly in grades 7 and 8. Cassellius pointed to new, more robust math standards adopted in 2007, and projected that scores will continue to increase as students and teachers focus on mastery of the more rigorous content.

Like reading scores in grades 3-8, 10th grade reading scores also increased; however, student scores for 11th grade math declined from 2011.

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