SC Minnesota News

Nicollet County saw 40.8% of their students pass the Science portion of the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA) in the 2022-23 school year, according to the Minnesota Department of Education.

Of the 1,000 students who took part in the MCA, 32.8% met the testing standard while 8% exceeded expectations and scored highest on the test.

The passing rate among Nicollet County students fell by 1.4% 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.

Analysis from The Nation's Report Card showed math and reading scores have fallen significantly in the last decade. Science scores have been steady in recent years.

School name	Students who met standards (%)	Students who exceed standards (%)
Bridges Community Elementary School	59.5%	24.3%
Dakota Meadows Middle School	28.5%	6.5%
Hoover Elementary School	37.2%	8.5%
Monroe Elementary School	45%	2.5%
Nicollet Elementary School	53.3%	13.3%
Nicollet High School	19.2%	5.8%
St. Peter High School	42%	12.2%
St. Peter Middle School	28.4%	7.5%