Shakopee MCA scores fall from last year

Shakopee Valley News

Standardized testing might be the bane of any child's school career but the scores can help states track education standards and improvement over time.

The 2017 Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments results released Aug. 7 show Shakopee Public Schools near the state score average, outperforming the state in math and reading and only .3 percent behind in science.

Data and Testing Administrator Dave Orlowsky said doing better than the state is due to excellent teachers, Professional Learning Communities and more.

"These and many other factors contribute to our results, including our supportive families and students who are ready to learn," Orlowsky said. "We are proud of our students and staff."

More than 61 percent of students were considered proficient in math, compared to 59 percent at the state level. In reading, 65 percent of Shakopee students were proficient, while the state percentage was 60 percent. In science, Shakopee was nearly on par with the statewide percentage, scoring minimally higher at 54 percent.

However, Shakopee students' scores fell compared to the 2016 data, according to previous Shakopee Valley News reporting.

In 2016, the proficiency in math was 66 percent. This year, 63 percent. Reading was 66 percent, whereas this year was 65 percent. Science was 58 percent, as opposed to this year, which was 54 percent.

"It is not unusual, or unexpected, to see scores move slightly up or down from year to year," Orlowsky said. "What we look for is a positive trend over time."

Leadership from each of the schools analyzed the MCA results to develop annual school improvement plans which include Professional Learning Communities and adding curriculum like Physics, Chemistry and Biology.

"We are trying to develop a continuous improvement mindset across the district," Orlowsky said.

Minnesota overall has experienced flatlining scores in recent years, according to a Star Tribune article. But over time, there's still improvement, Orlowsky said.

"There has been growth over the years when we look back to the start of the MCAIII Reading in 2013 and MCA Math in 2011," he said.

MCAs aren't the only way to gage students' progress, Orlowsky said.

"These tests are one day snapshot of a child's performance and there's much more to a child's education," he said. "MCAs are just one of the multiple measures we use to evaluate the progress of our students."