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Friday, November 14, 2025

48.3% of South St. Paul Public School District students failed the science portion of the MCA in 2023-24 school year

Webp willie jett

Willie Jett Commissioner of Education Minnesota Department of Education | sahanjournal.com

Willie Jett Commissioner of Education Minnesota Department of Education | sahanjournal.com

South St. Paul Public School District registered 48.3% of its students failing the science portion of the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA) and the Minnesota Test of Academic Skills (MTAS) test in the 2023-24 school year, according to the Minnesota Department of Education.

The number of South St. Paul Public School District students who failed their science assessments rose by 2.1% from the previous school year.

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.

Data showed that HS grade students stood out with 4.9% 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 57.8% 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.

Overall proficiency on Minnesota's MCA exams has declined compared to pre-pandemic levels, according to Minnesota's Report Card. Math proficiency, for example, dropped by more than 7% from 2019, while reading proficiency fell by almost 5%.

Failure Rates in Science During 2023-24 School Year

School NameFailure Rate (%)
South St. Paul Middle School57.8%
South St. Paul Community Learning Center57.1%
Lincoln Center Elementary46.1%
Kaposia Education Center Elementary44.1%
South St. Paul High School38.4%
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