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Staff writer

Anoka-Hennepin School District’s Science MCA-II scores have been released and turns out, District 11 students outscored the state once again.

On the high school level, 52.4 percent of District 11 students proved proficient, while just 51.9 percent of the state’s students reached proficiency.

On the eighth-grade level, 57.5 percent of District 11’s students scored science proficiency while the state showed just under 48 percent were proficient.

For fifth-graders, 52.1 percent of District 11 students were proficient; only 46.5 percent of the state’s fifth-graders reached the proficient mark.

“We are definitely pleased with these results and we continue to take steps to make sure we are instructing students in science on a higher and higher level,” said Johnna Rohmer-Hirt, director of research, evaluation and testing for District 11.

“Anoka-Hennepin scores on state science tests (MCAII) continue to make significant improvement,” said Mary Olson, director of communication and public relations for the district.

The percentage of Anoka-Hennepin students scoring at a proficient level increased from 43 percent in 2008 (the first year the test was given) to 50 percent in 2009 and 54 percent in 2010.

 Anoka-Hennepin scores remain above the state average and are improving faster than the state average, said Olson.

Anoka-Hennepin scored 43 percnet in 2008 and increased to 54 percent in 2010; the state scored 40 percent in 2008 and increased to 48 percent in 2010.

 Most of the district’s schools improved and some made dramatic increases. Mississippi, Sand Creek, Sorteberg and Washington Elementary Schools all increased by 19 to 20 percent and Roosevelt Middle School increased by 17 percent.

“We are very pleased to see that most schools improved and congratulate those that made significant gains. We will take a look at what they are doing to see if it can be replicated in other schools,” said Olson.


How the test was done

This spring, some 8,750 students in District 11’s grades five, eight and high school took the Science MCA-II, a test that measures student performance on Minnesota’s Academic Standards.

(Students in grades nine through 12 are expected to take the high school Science MCA-II if, in the current academic year, they are enrolled in a life science/biology course and/or have received instruction on standards that fulfill the life science credit for graduation. All students in grades five and eight were expected to take the test.)

The science standards define what students should know and be able to do in a particular grade and are developed in partnership with Minnesota educators, according to the state department of education.


District 11 science teaching strategies

Rohmer-Hirt attributes the district’s “focus on inquiry teaching” and the resulting “higher-level thinking skills” as key contributors to students’ success.

“And we also have specialty schools on all levels,” she said, counting the district’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) school (Monroe Elementary School), math and science specialty schools (Riverview Elementary School and Jackson Middle School), and the Center for Engineering, Math and Science at Blaine High School as specialty schools with a strong focus on science.

To boost students’ science savvy during the summertime months, District 11 staff suggests visiting the Science Museum, talking about weather patterns as the family watches the news together, going on a nature hunt, taking pictures of backyard insects and plants and matching them to the illustrations and photographs published in library books.

“Science is all around – and it’s easy for families to make science fun, creative and artistic,” said Rohmer-Hirt. “Summer is a great time to do that.”


How the tests are scored

On the MCA-IIs, 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.

Students can advance on to the next grade, regardless of their MCA-II scoring.

Results from the science assessment do not impact Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP).

The Science MCA-II test is interactive and allows students to investigate science phenomena online.

As described by the Minnesota Department of Education, the science MCA-IIs are computer-delivered, web-based tests “with the capacity to deliver innovative science assessment items to students.”

These assessments include multiple-choice and constructed-response items as well as figural-response items.

(Figural response is an innovative item type designed to allow students to respond by selecting one or more points on or moving objects around within a graphic.)

MCAs defined

In total, the MCAs (Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments) are reading, mathematics, writing, and science tests that help schools and school districts measure student progress toward the state’s academic standards.

The Minnesota Department of Education reports that next year school districts will have the ability to assess students online in mathematics in grades three through eight.

That assessment will be accomplished using a test design that is similar to the science test, including technology-enhanced items that use the computer to assess a greater depth of knowledge.

For more information on the Science MCA-II tests, visit www.education.state.mn.us/mde/index.html.

Sue Austreng is at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it