SC Minnesota News

Kato Public Charter School District registered 77.4% of its students failing the science portion of the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA) and the Minnesota Test of Academic Skills (MTAS) test in the 2023-24 school year, according to the Minnesota Department of Education.

The number of Kato Public Charter School District students who failed their science assessments rose by 0.2% 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.

Eighth grade students had the most room for improvement, with 80% not meeting the expected standards.

Kato Public Charter School District roughly covers schools within Blue Earth County and has a main office in Mankato.

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%.