The science test results are in for the state's fifth- and eighth-graders and high school students.
How they fared
The following are the results from area schools and percentages of students who met or exceeded the standards on the Science MCA-II:
Aitkin
* 47.6 percent of fifth-graders were proficient.
* 25 percent of eighth-graders were proficient.
* 33.7 percent of high school students were proficient.
Brainerd
* 41.8 percent of fifth-graders were proficient.
* 47.7 percent of eighth-graders were proficient.
* 51.7 percent of high school students were proficient.
Crosby-Ironton
* 40.5 percent of fifth-graders were proficient.
* 44.4 percent of eighth-graders were proficient.
* 44.3 percent of high school students were proficient.
Crosslake Community School
* 23.1 percent of fifth-graders were proficient.
* No eighth-graders were proficient.
Emily Charter School
* 50 percent of fifth-graders were proficient.
Little Falls
* 35.3 percent of fifth-graders were proficient.
* 25.9 percent of eighth-graders were proficient.
* 32.8 percent of high school students were proficient.
Pequot Lakes
* 37 percent of fifth-graders were proficient.
* 43.5 percent of eighth-graders were proficient.
* 26.2 percent of high school students were proficient.
Pierz
* 33.7 percent of fifth-graders were proficient.
* 45.7 percent of eighth-graders were proficient.
* 25 percent of high school students were proficient.
Pine River-Backus
* 45 percent of fifth-graders were proficient.
* 30.2 percent of eighth-graders were proficient.
* 22.2 percent of high school students were proficient.
Pillager
* 25.4 percent of fifth-graders were proficient.
* 27.7 percent of eighth-graders were proficient.
* 41.7 percent of high school students were proficient.
Pillager Area Charter School
* No high school students were proficient.
Staples-Motley
* 46.3 percent of fifth-graders were proficient.
* 25.1 percent of eighth-graders were proficient.
* 20.3 percent of high school students were proficient.
Verndale
* 28.6 percent of fifth-graders were proficient.
* 20 percent of eighth-graders were proficient.
* 30 percent of high school students were proficient.
Walker-Hackensack-Akeley
* 35.5 percent of fifth-graders were proficient.
* 20.8 percent of eighth-graders were proficient.
* 29.9 percent of high school students were proficient.
The Minnesota Department of Education released the results Tuesday from the first online Science Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments-II.
This spring 184,570 students took the Science MCA-II which measures student performance on the state's academic standards. The science standards define what students should know and be able to do in a particular grade level and are developed in partnership with Minnesota educators.
Each student earns a score in one of four achievement levels: does not meet standards, partially meets standards, meets the standards or exceeds the standards.
Students who meet or exceed standards are considered proficient. The Science MCA-II is interactive and allows students to simulate experiments online. This assessment test does not impact Adequate Yearly Progress, or AYP.
In 2008 statewide, about 39 percent of fifth-graders, 38 percent of eighth-graders and 43 percent of high school students were found to be proficient on the Science MCA-II.
At the Brainerd School District, each grade level tested higher than the statewide average. Of Brainerd students tested, 41.8 percent of fifth-graders were proficient, 47.7 percent of eighth-graders were proficient and 51.7 percent of high school students tested were proficient.
Deb Lechner, director of teaching and learning for the Brainerd School District, said each district was allowed to determine which grade level in the high school was tested since districts offer biology in different grades, usually in 10th or 11th grades. In Brainerd, the 10th-graders took the Science MCA-II.
"We're pleased with our initial results," said Lechner.
Lechner said last year the district changed the AP biology course to the sophomore level so all students would learn life science concepts in 10th grade. Students have the choice of taking the AP biology course or a regular biology course in 10th grade. She said the curriculum committee is continuing to work to align its science concepts with the state academic standards in science.
"We are happy and pleased with the results here in Brainerd in our three tested grade levels," said Brainerd Superintendent Steve Razidlo. "Our students are performing significantly above the state average. While there is still plenty of work to do, we'll be creating some more specific grade level targets, we're happy about the local performance of our students."
JODIE TWEED may be reached at jodie.tweed@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5858.
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