Elementary showing increases in math, reading and science

By Robert Williams

Editor

The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) released 2025 statewide assessment and accountability results in late August. 

Overall, student performance on the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCAs) remained steady in reading and mathematics, while consistent attendance rates continued to improve across student groups. 

The MCAs are state tests in reading, mathematics, and science that are used to meet federal and state legislative requirements. The tests are administered every year to measure student performance relative to the Minnesota Academic Standards that specify what students in a particular grade should know and be able to do.

Science assessment results will be released later this fall, reflecting the first year of instruction following the implementation of revised academic standards and assessments aligned to those rigorous standards.

“As students return for a new school year, this data gives us information about where students are and how we can best support them,” said Commissioner Willie Jett. “These results reflect a moment in time, while the work happening in our classrooms every day is building the foundation for long-term student success. We are deeply grateful to Minnesota’s educators, who continue to show up for students with skill, commitment, and care.”

All students in public schools are required to participate in the statewide assessment program. Reading and mathematics tests are administered in grades 3–8 and high school (students in grade 10 take the Reading MCA, and students in grade 11 take the Mathematics MCA). The Science MCA is administered to students in grades 5 and 8 and in the high school grade when students take a life science or biology course. With very few exceptions, all public school students in the above grades take the MCA.

Local results

The number of students attending school regularly (2024) is a measure of students who attend school on a regular basis and are not frequently absent. A student is considered consistently attending if they attend more than 90 percent of the time the student is enrolled during the year.

Frazee Elementary was above the state average of 75.5 percent with an overall attendance of 84.1 percent. The district as a whole is at 74.8 percent. Frazee Secondary was below the state average at 66 percent.

Last school year elementary students showed a positive increase in meeting standards in math, reading and science since 2021. In that four-year span, 61.6 percent of elementary students met standards in math, 55.5 percent in reading and 58.5 percent in science, all highs in that timeframe.

At the high school, math proficiency has been on the decline from a four-year high of 24.1 percent of students (41) meeting standards to just 21 students (14.9 percent) in 2025.

Reading numbers are up in 2025 at 36.4 percent (60), but down from 2021 and 2022 numbers of 44 percent of students meeting standards. Science metrics have been relatively the same the past two school years at 27.1 and 28.3 percent, down from 34.1 percent in 2021. Statewide, the student average has been steady from 44.2-45.5 percent proficient over the five years.

Total high school graduation numbers have been steady over the five-year span ranging from 52 students in 2023 to 65 in 2021. The percentage of students graduating was at a low in 2023 at 78.3 percent while both 2022 and 2023 reached the 90th and 91st percentile, respectively.

In the Accountability data, students who do not take the test are counted in the same way as students who are not proficient, which has an impact on statewide averages. This is due to reporting requirements as part of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act.

Assessment data provides a snapshot of student learning, one of several tools used to understand how students are doing. Educators and schools also rely on indicators such as student growth, English language proficiency, graduation rates, and consistent attendance to effectively guide instruction and target support.

Results are created by the 2025 North Star Accountability Report, which was first launched in 2018 as a part of Minnesota’s federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) plan and evaluates schools and districts every three years on five key indicators:

• Academic achievement as measured by statewide assessments

• Academic progress tracking individual student growth over time

• Progress toward English language proficiency

• Consistent attendance, defined as attending school at least 90 percent of enrolled days

• Graduation rates at four and seven years

The North Star system also identifies schools that will receive targeted support over the next three years. By prioritizing resources for schools and districts with the greatest need, MDE is ensuring the efficient and effective delivery of investments to the students who will benefit most.

With 310 schools identified, the number of schools eligible for support remains consistent from 2022. Notably, there is a drop in schools receiving comprehensive support for student groups identified for two or more cycles, a sign that many districts are responding effectively to the initial support students need.