Dakota Times

South St. Paul Public School District registered 42.5% of its students failing the science portion of the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA) and the Minnesota Test of Academic Skills (MTAS) test in the 2021-22 school year, according to the Minnesota Department of Education.

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.

The number of South St. Paul Public School District students who failed their science assessments fell by 4% from the previous school year.

Data showed that HS grade students stood out with 9.7% of them exceeding standards in science, which was the highest recorded proficiency in South St. Paul Public School District.

On the other hand, eighth grade students had the most room for improvement, with 52.6% not meeting the expected standards.

South St. Paul Public School District roughly covers schools within Dakota County and has a main office in South Saint Paul.

Analysis from The Nation's Report Card showed math and reading scores have fallen significantly in the last decade. Science scores have been steady in recent years.

School Name	Failure Rate (%)
South St. Paul Community Learning Center	79.2%
Kaposia Education Center Elementary	59.1%
South St. Paul Middle School	50.7%
Lincoln Center Elementary	36.7%
South St. Paul High School	25.5%
SSP Virtual	--