Dear Princeton Community,

The Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA-III) are tests in reading, math and science taken annually to measure student performance in relation to the Minnesota Academic Standards.  Students in grades 3-8, 10 take reading, grades 3-8, 11 take math, and grades 5, 8, 10 take science. Final 2018 data for Princeton Public Schools show approximately 68% of students are proficient in Reading, 62% are proficient in Math and 65% are proficient in Science.   Princeton exceeds the statewide proficiency rates in all areas of Reading, Math and Science.  Final data for all Minnesota school districts were publicly released today and are available on the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) Report card at:

Math Assessment Trends
Reading Assessment Trends
Science Assessment Trends

Our proficiency trends have increased steadily over the past six years:  

• District reading from 55.0% in 2013 to 68.3% in 2018.
• District math from 54.1% in 2013 to 62.4% in 2018.
• District science from 59.9% in 2013 to 65.4% in 2018.

Some of the most impressive increases in proficiency by grade level are:

• Fourth grade reading from 60.2% in 2017 to 66.1% in 2018.
• Sixth grade reading from 66.2% in 2017 to 72.0% in 2018.
• Seventh grade reading from 62.1% in 2017 to 69.1% in 2018.
• Eighth grade reading from 59.8% in 2017 to 67.3% in 2018.
• Tenth grade reading from 56.0 in 2017 to 61.2% in 2018.
• Fourth grade math from 71.5% in 2017 to 77.8% in 2018.
• Seventh grade math from 59.5% in 2017 to 62.5% in 2018.
• Eighth grade math from 60.5% in 2017 to 68.1% in 2018.
• Eleventh grade math from 48.1% in 2017 to 52.9% in 2018.

The Princeton Public Schools strategic plan has a goal of providing personalized instruction for every student and another goal of preparing 21st century students to be career and college ready.  In order to achieve these goals,  we are:

• Bringing the Princeton Paradigm (a roadmap for personalized instruction) to life across the district
• Infusing Social and Emotional Learning into classrooms and throughout our culture 
• Implementing strategies that empower student ownership of learning
• Providing supports and extensions based on individual student needs

Our district has committed to quality professional development for all staff, invested time in collaboration, and believe in the strength of the team.  Our strategic plan has aligned our goals from the individual teacher level to department or grade levels to the school level to the district level.  These cascading domains help maximize student success.

Teachers and Administrators have worked very hard to meet goals, and we will continue to do so throughout the 2018-2019 school year.  The MCAs are just one indicator we use to measure student performance.  Teachers are looking for student growth every single day.  This growth mindset has been intentionally cultivated within our culture over the past few years and assists students in recognizing and celebrating their own growth.

Individual student results are sent home in late August. If you have questions about the results, please contact your school principal.

Whether you are a parent or a relative or a community person, please continue to support our school personnel as we continue to help students to improve their own achievement.  It is a fact that creating a culture in which teams of teachers help one another get better is the secret to improving schools.  Be proud that we have it happening in Princeton Public Schools. Together we are #477PrincetonProud.

Sincerely,

Jessica Town-Gunderson
Director of Teaching and Learning