How many 5th graders from New Ulm Middle School take the reading MCAs in 2023-24 school year?

New Ulm Middle School reported that fifth graders had the third highest participation rate in the reading portion of the 2023-24 MCA, according to the Minnesota Department of Education.

Of the 603 students who took that portion of the test in New Ulm Middle School, 154 were enrolled in the fifth grade.

The number of fifth graders taking the reading MCAs fell from the previous school year, when 159 students were assessed.

Overall, 48.7% of the students in the fifth grade were considered proficient in reading, according to the test standards.

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.

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%.

Grade	# of Students Tested	Proficiency in reading
5th	154	48.7%
6th	161	61.5%
7th	143	47.6%
8th	145	55.9%

*Data for small student groups is suppressed by some schools to ensure privacy.