School leaders reflect on MCA scores

The annual Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments test results are out for 2023-2024 are out and some area schools are celebrating.

Kasson-Mantorville

“At Kasson-Mantorville Schools, we always put students first. Our commitment to excellence can be seen daily in classrooms, and we work as a team to ensure that students are learning at high levels every day,” Director of Student and Staff Support Systems, Ashley Kaplan said.

One highlight noted by the district was a “notable achievement is in high school reading, where the district has seen an increase in proficiency by over 25% in just over two years.” In addition, high school math scores are up by over 28% during the same time period.

“Kasson-Mantorville Elementary School continues to show high levels of achievement in the area of mathematics, and the Kasson-Mantorville Middle School continues to see improvement, as new curriculum in each of the tested core content areas of math, science, and reading has been implemented by teachers over the last three years,” a district press release read. “ As a district, we celebrate the success of our students and staff while continuing to work to improve, so that each and every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential.”

Superintendent Ted Ihns said the district is “incredibly proud of the academic growth our students have demonstrated this past year.”

“These results are a testament to the hard work and dedication of our students, educators, and staff, as well as the support from our families and community,” Ihns said. “While we celebrate these achievements, we remain focused on continuing to improve and ensuring that every student has the opportunity to succeed at the highest levels.”

Triton

Triton Public Schools “experienced academic growth in Math, Reading, and Science as measured by the MCAs” a press release explained.

Luke Lutterman, Triton High School Principal, noted,

“We have seen growth in several areas, MCAs are one measure and we will continue to use this assessment data as well as other data points to make sure our academic programming is meeting the needs of all learners,” Triton High School Principal, and next superintendent of schools Lutterman said. “The continued academic progress is visible with engaging and relevant learning experiences, hard work, and personal connections.”

The press releases noted there was a 13.4% proficiency improvement over the last two years in math at Triton High School. The high school also had proficiency scores that exceeded the state average in math, reading, and science, according to the release.

“Triton Middle School also noted improvement in proficiency in Math, Reading, and Science. Highlighting the Middle School improvements were a 9% increase in Math proficiency, and a 17% increase in Science,” the district release read.

Triton Elementary School saw an increase in reading across third, fourth, and fifth grades from the year before, the release noted.

Craig Schlichting, Triton Superintendent, said “The Triton School District continues to improve in several areas,” Superintendent Craig Schlichting wrote. “The test results will provide information on what we continue to do well and what areas we need to enhance to ensure all students grow regardless of their current achievement level. I would like to thank the dedicated Triton staff, students, and families for their continued hard work and support.”

Byron

In a prepared statement Byron Superintendent Mike Neubeck said “When compared to other districts in the state, our past percentile scores have been consistently above average and we expect the same from this year’s scores.”

“Our teachers work very hard through Professional Learning Communities and within grade levels to improve teaching and learning which in turn, will result in more student success,” Neubeck wrote. “There are always areas that could be improved but we are proud of our students’ success on these tests. We are even more proud of the type graduate who leaves our district ready for post-secondary education and trades work, and being a great citizen in our community.”

Hayfield

Over in Hayfield, Superintendent Gregg Slaathaug said his district “remains committed to enhancing student performance and improving test scores.”

“We have made updates to both our math and reading curriculums and have full confidence in the capabilities of our staff and students,” Slaathaug said. “Additionally, we will continue to prioritize the holistic development of each child while effectively managing the various responsibilities mandated by the state legislature, particularly in light of the recent sessions.”

K-M

Triton

Byron

Hayfield