Wadena County saw 38.4% of their students pass the mathematics portion of the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA) in the 2023-24 school year, according to the [“Minnesota Department of Education“, “Wadena County”].
Of the 1,306 students who took part in the MCA, 28.6% met the testing standard while 9.8% exceeded expectations and scored highest on the test.
The passing rate among Wadena County students grew by 2.3% from the previous school year.
The MCA and the Minnesota Test of Academic Skills (MTAS) are the state tests that help districts measure student progress toward Minnesota’s academic standards and also meet federal and state legislative requirements. The tests cover math, reading and science, depending on the grade that is being tested. Most students take the MCA, but students who receive special education services and meet eligibility requirements may take the MTAS instead.
Overall proficiency on Minnesota’s MCA exams has declined compared to pre-pandemic levels, according to Minnesota’s Report Card. Math proficiency, for example, dropped by more than 7% from 2019, while reading proficiency fell by almost 5%.
| School name | Students who met standards (%) | Students who exceed standards (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Freshwater Education District Alternative Learning Center | 0% | 0% |
| Menahga Elementary School | 30% | 15.7% |
| Menahga High School | 30.8% | 7.7% |
| Sebeka Elementary School | 39.1% | 21.1% |
| Sebeka Secondary School | 28.9% | 5.2% |
| Verndale Elementary School | 30.7% | 10.2% |
| Verndale Secondary School | 10.4% | 2.8% |
| Wadena-Deer Creek 5th and 6th Grade | 33.3% | 8% |
| Wadena-Deer Creek Elementary School | 35.9% | 9.4% |
| Wadena-Deer Creek Senior High School | 24.5% | 6.1% |