MCA results: 'One data point' won't deter rural educators

Rural schools in Carlton County showed marginal progress in the results of the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments released by the state Education Department last week.

Students mostly eclipsed statewide averages at the Barnum and Cromwell-Wright districts, but, overall, the drop in scores since Covid-19 in 2020 was still evidenced with some lackluster performances in reading and math — the two subjects that are the primary focus of the tests.

To better understand the proficiencies of rural-most students and the recovery arc since the pandemic, the Pine Knot reached out to several educators and received responses from the two aforementioned schools, along with Wrenshall.

Sources stressed that the MCA is a “snapshot in time,” and “one data point,” noting report cards and other measures of student performance. Educators also highlighted that students and families can opt out of the standardized testing — a decision that earns a zero score and serves to bring down the entirety of results.

“Wrenshall emphasizes a holistic approach to educating the students, and doesn’t give the MCA scores any more weight than other measures,” Wrenshall superintendent Jeff Pesta said. “Statistics such as attendance, disciplinary incidents and graduation rates are valued in Wrenshall, and are all trending favorably.”

In Barnum, elementary students far surpassed the state averages, and the secondary students rose above the average in math.

“I’m happy we’re above the state average,” superintendent Bill Peel said. “As a school district, I do not feel we are in panic mode.”

Peel brought up the READ Act, passed by the Minnesota Legislature in 2023, requiring every child beginning in kindergarten to be reading at or above grade level every year. Teachers across the state are learning and implementing breakthroughs related to the science of reading, and how to target and address symptoms of a reading deficiency. Peel said the READ legislation “will assist in raising our scores.”

Educators at Cromwell-Wright agreed. Principal Julie Stauber said teachers are training now to better address young readers.

“They’re finding out the very specific reading skills that each student needs to master in order to master reading,” she said. “That’s what the science of reading is helping us understand.”

Cromwell-Wright superintendent Nathan Libbon said it’s been difficult to make up for lost time during the pandemic, when school facilities were closed and much of the learning migrated online with remote instruction. That period, through the 2020-21 school year, featured increased truancy rates and is roundly regarded as having been detrimental to students’ academic growth.

“We’re working very hard — all schools are — to catch up from the pandemic,” Libbon said. “The needle does not stop moving forward. It doesn’t wait. It’s a challenge, and one we have to meet and be successful at.”

Stauber suggested improved reading will improve proficiencies across other subjects.

“When you are learning math, there is a lot of reading associated with that — same with science,” she said. “Getting everybody trained on how people read is actually going to benefit the other subjects and disciplines as well.”

Barnum’s Peel made an appeal to families and parents, highlighting their role in turning around students’ proficiencies.

“I would ask them for their assistance in helping the district increase our overall performance,” Peel said. “We can’t do it alone. We need parents to encourage students and articulate the importance of reading.”

He added that it’s important for parents to ensure homework is completed, and encourage regular reading and participation in school programs and activities.

In Wrenshall, Pesta said teachers there are also training in the new science of reading instruction. Additionally, the district’s instructional team selected a new math curriculum that starts this year. It’s the first investment in a new curriculum in years, and the current school board has set aside funding for teachers to update curricula on an ongoing basis.

“Wrenshall’s one-campus, small-school model is a great match for many students as they reestablish routines and build beneficial relationships with adults,” Pesta said.

He added that Wrenshall is working with parents to refine ways to return to a pre-pandemic normalcy. This year’s scores reinforce strategic decisions already in progress, he said. Ways Wrenshall is adapting have been to set limits on class size and invest in splitting sections — including having two kindergarten and fourth-grade sections this school year — hire experienced teachers, and develop long-term initiatives such as cell phone restrictions and career and technical education programs before it was trendy.

“Families have many options to find the type of school environment that matches their priorities,” Pesta said.

The MCA data, while one data point and only a moment in time, gives districts guidance — no matter the scores, the sources said. The MCA standards are justifiably high, sources said.

“We celebrate a student who increases their scores,” Peel said, “even if they don’t meet the standard on the standardized tests.”

Cromwell-Wright’s Libbon said he sees the effort behind the data.

“I’m proud of how hard our students work and our teachers work,” Libbon said. “We know we’re working hard and learning new things and constantly trying to improve. We can’t let one score get us down. It’s one data point.”

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MCA scores

School Math Reading Science

Barnum elementary 54.9 59.9 65.1

Barnum secondary 39 57.9 44.9

Carlton elementary 42.9 39.3 31.8

Carlton secondary 21.3 37.8 22.9

Cloquet high school 37.2 56 41.6

Cloquet middle school 37.8 51.5 29.9

Cloquet elementary (Churchill) 68.5 67.5 N/A*

Cloquet elementary (Washington) 56.7 54.3 N/A*

Cloquet Area Alternative Education Program 4.2 25 13.3 **

Cromwell-Wright elementary 61 58.5 42.9

Cromwell-Wright secondary 29.0 39.4 27.8

Esko elementary 75.2 68 57.9

Esko secondary 54.6 64 52.5

Moose Lake elementary 42.9 50.0 65.7

Moose Lake secondary 48.8 55.1 37.3

Wrenshall elementary 54.3 48.4 35.0

Wrenshall secondary 20.9 41.9 54.5

Statewide all students 45.5 49.9 39.6

*Cloquet elementary schools are preK through grade 4 so there are no science scores. Science testing starts in grade 5. Cloquet Middle School serves grades 5-8.

** The Cloquet Area Alternative Education Program draws students from 12 different school districts in the region, most of them are struggling and behind on credits. Very few students took the MCAs at CAAEP in recent years.