The latest Minnesota test score data shows roughly half of public school students who took a standardized test during the last school year were found to be reading at grade level, with fewer students proficient in math.
The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) on Thursday released the 2023-2024 test data, which includes results from the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA).
“Across all grades and subjects, students who took the MCA in 2024 scored about the same percent proficient as last year,” MDE shared in a news release, noting only slight changes were observed in results for student groups by race and ethnicity.
That means about 50% of the students who took standardized tests in 2023-2024 met or exceeded grade-level standards in reading, and about 45.5% of students met or exceeded grade-level standards in math.
The latest report is the latest indication that Minnesota students have not recovered from the learning loss seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, which significantly worsened a decline in student achievement that began years prior.
“We need all students to succeed and thrive in school,” stated MDE Commissioner Willie Jett. “Statewide assessment and accountability data are an important part of a broader set of measures that tell our schools and families how students are doing and guide MDE in planning how to best support our school communities.”
Lawmakers and education officials have expressed hope that several long-term investments from the 2023 legislative session, once fully implemented, will drive test score improvement in the coming years.
Those investments include the largest K-12 education funding increase in state history and the Minnesota Reading to Ensure Academic Development (READ) Act, which overhauls reading education in the state.
In a news release, MDE also noted new teacher recruitment and retention grant programs, teacher training efforts, and local literacy plans set to begin in the coming school year
A silver lining in Thursday's report is an increase in student attendance.
The North Star report, which defines consistent attendance as attending school at least 90% of the time, found 74.5% of Minnesota public school students attended school consistently last year - that's up from 69.8% the prior school year.
“We are proud of the work our educators have done to strengthen relationships to boost attendance and make sure students feel welcomed and supported," Jett stated. "Thank you students, educators and families for the work you’ve done to prioritize student engagement and learning."
“These efforts are making a difference, and we look forward to seeing the consistent attendance rates continue to rise," he continued.
Explore school-level and district-level data using the Minnesota Report Card and MDE’s Data Center .
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