Apple Valley Schools See Mixed Results on State Science Tests

Results are mixed for Apple Valley's public schools on the state standardized science tests that students took in the spring.

The Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments—Series II science test, which Minnesota public school students in grades five, eight and in high school take each spring, measure students' understanding of the relevant science curriculum. Students also are tested in reading and math.

Half of the 14 Apple Valley public schools with reported test scores improved over their 2010 marks in the percentage of students who demonstrated proficiency on the science test, while the other half dropped below last year's marks.

, a science, technology, engineering and math magnet school, showed the greatest improvement, with a more than 21-percentage-point increase in fifth-grade students who met or exceeded expectations on the science test.

The percentage of fifth-graders who met or exceeded expectations on the test dropped nearly 17 percent.

Eight of the schools exceeded the state average for percentage of students who were proficient, as compared to six last year.

Statewide, the science test scores were similar to where they were in 2010, with 46 percent of fifth-graders, 44.4 percent of eighth-graders and 53.8 percent of high-schoolers achieving proficiency.

“The 2011 Science MCA-II results ... reinforce our need to approach science and math education with a sense of urgency,” Minnesota Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius said in a press release. “While we see some slight gains among some groups of students, they are not enough to ensure all of our kids will be able to compete in a global economy.”

Cassellius noted in the press release the disparities in academic performance among different groups of students, and cited resources like STEM initiatives and Science/Math Teacher Academies as examples of best practices to improve science education and student achievement.

“We continue to see a persistent disparity in achievement between students of color, students in poverty and their white counterparts,” Cassellius said.

Results from the science assessment do not impact schools' Adequate Yearly Progress standings. Reading and Math MCA-II scores, which are used to calculate AYP under the federal No Child Left Behind Act, will be released in mid- to late-September.

Earlier this week, Gov. Mark Dayton directed Cassellius to apply for a federal waiver from some NCLB requirements to allow Minnesota to focus on local education improvements without the sanctions that can come with the federal mandates.

Below are the results of the MCA science tests for the Apple Valley schools in District 196. The numbers represent the show percentages of student test-takers.

Key
D=Did not meet expectations; P=Partially meets expectations; M=Meets expectations; E=Exceeds expectations