Students on Track for Long-Term Gains as Minnesota Assessment Data Shows Stable K-12 Academic Performance
Attendance rates continue to improve across student groups as schools effectively target supports
MINNEAPOLIS – Today, the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) released 2025 statewide assessment and accountability results. Overall, student performance on the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCAs) remained steady in reading and mathematics, while consistent attendance rates continued to improve across student groups. Science assessment results will be released later this fall, reflecting the first year of instruction following the implementation of revised academic standards and assessments aligned to those rigorous standards.
“As students return for a new school year, this data gives us information about where students are and how we can best support them,” said Commissioner Willie Jett. “These results reflect a moment in time, while the work happening in our classrooms every day is building the foundation for long-term student success. We are deeply grateful to Minnesota’s educators, who continue to show up for students with skill, commitment, and care.”
Consistent attendance rates improved again this year, continuing a positive trend that began in 2022. Statewide, 75.5% of students attended at least 90% of the time in the 2023-24 school year, up from 74.5% in the 2022-23 school year.
Assessment data provides a snapshot of student learning, one of several tools used to understand how students are doing. Educators and schools also rely on indicators such as student growth, English language proficiency, graduation rates, and consistent attendance to effectively guide instruction and target support.
Building Toward Long-Term Student Success
Initial implementation of Minnesota’s Reading to Ensure Academic Development (READ) Act is ongoing. This transformation of the state’s literacy instruction was signed into law in 2023 by Governor Walz and is a multi-year, comprehensive process. Districts and charter schools began providing teachers and instructional support staff with evidence-based reading instruction training in July 2024, with districts requesting training for more than 30,000 teachers as of January 2025. The impact of structured literacy education will be evaluated over time and will first begin showing in statewide reading assessments results as students progress through grades with fully trained teachers.
In addition to the READ Act, the 2023 legislative session was transformative for K-12 education, delivering strengthened teacher recruitment and retention programs, and expanding COMPASS, the statewide system of support for continuous improvement. Together, these investments are laying the groundwork for lasting gains in student achievement and wellbeing.
North Star Accountability Results
Today’s release includes the 2025 North Star Accountability Report, which was first launched in 2018 as a part of Minnesota’s federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) plan and evaluates schools and districts every three years on five key indicators:
- Academic achievement as measured by statewide assessments
- Academic progress tracking individual student growth over time
- Progress toward English language proficiency
- Consistent attendance, defined as attending school at least 90% of enrolled days
- Graduation rates at four and seven years
Looking Ahead
The North Star system also identifies schools that will receive targeted support over the next three years. By prioritizing resources for schools and districts with the greatest need, MDE is ensuring the efficient and effective delivery of investments to the students who will benefit most.
With 310 schools identified, the number of schools eligible for support remains consistent from 2022. Notably, there is a drop in schools receiving comprehensive support for student groups identified for two or more cycles, a sign that many districts are responding effectively to the initial support students need.
Statewide assessment and accountability results are available in the Minnesota Report Card and MDE’s Data Center. Note: In the Accountability data, students who do not take the test are counted in the same way as students who are not proficient, which has an impact on statewide averages. This is due to reporting requirements as part of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act.
###
|
