Closing the Achievement Gap

SoWashCounty School District 833 has fewer students who exceed expectations in tests than in 2018.  In 2018, 30.4% of students who took the state approved standardized tests exceeded expectations.  In 2019, this went down by 1.4% to 29%.  In 2022, only 19.7% exceeded expectations in the state standardized tests, which is a 10.7% loss in the exceeds expectations area alone. In addition, there are less students who meet expectations compared to 2018.

The data from MDE show that the number of students who do not meet expectations is growing larger.

(Image source:   MN Report Card, MDE)

 This graph shows a decline at the SoWashCo School District level and State level.
ONLY 53% of students were proficient!
This graph shows that in 2021-22 school year, ONLY 53% of 3rd graders were proficient in meeting or exceeding MCA-III test standards (MN Comprehensive Assessment-Series 3). This means that 3rd graders were 28% below the MCA-III goals set by the SoWashCo School District. For a baseline, in 2016-17 scores showed that 64% of 3rd graders were proficient. The decline began before the pandemic and appeared to have been worsened by virtual learning. 

(Image source:    

Minnesota Report Card, MN Dept of Education (MDE) 

Statistics are confirmed by SoWashCo Reports)

  In 2013 math proficiency was 62%; reading was 58%

In 2023 math proficiency is 46%; reading is 50%

Spending increased from 56% to 74%

Let's get a better return on our investment!

(Sources: MN Dept of Education, US Census Bureau and Reason Foundation, Center of the American Experiment, Alpha News)

This graph shows that only 51% of all SoWashCo School District 833 students met or exceeded MCA-III standards in 2021-22 which is 30.4% below the target goal. 

(Image source:  SoWashCo School District)