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The percentage of Albert Lea school district students who met standards in the 2024 Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment tests in math, reading and science decreased compared to the previous year, according to data released Thursday from the Minnesota Department of Education.

As a district, 31.5% of students were proficient in math, 38.4% were proficient in reading and 29.7% were proficient in science. That is compared to 35.2% proficient in 2023 for math, 39.9% for reading and 31.4% for science.

The reading and math MCA tests are taken in third through eighth grades, as well as 10th grade for reading and 11th grade for math. The science tests are taken in fifth and eighth grades and once in high school.

“In reflection of our spring 2024 MCA scores, we acknowledge that, as a district, we are still working to meet the needs of each student as we strive to meet proficiency of state standards,” said Tonya Franks, executive director of academics and accountability for Albert Lea Area Schools. “We will use the data to prioritize resources with the goal of improving student learning outcomes while staying aligned to our strategic plan and state statute. It is our steadfast commitment to continue to focus on students meeting their growth potential.”

Superintendent Ron Wagner said teachers and staff continue to do amazing work with the individual needs of each student.

“We do have celebrations across the district in every building, and two buildings had gains that are definite highlights,” Wagner said.

Halverson Elementary School saw improvement across the board with 41.8% of students proficient in math in 2024 compared to 40.1% in 2023; 43.8% proficient in reading in 2024 compared to 34.5% in 2023; and 63% proficient in science in 2024 compared to 54.3% in 2023.

Lakeview Elementary School saw increases in two subject areas with 50.5% proficient in reading in 2024 compared to 46.2% in 2023 and 37.9% proficient in science in 2024 compared to 32.3% in 2023. Math scores stayed relatively flat with 53.7% proficient in 2024 compared to 53.8% in 2023.

Sibley Elementary School saw improvement in its science scores with 40.7% of students proficient in 2024 compared to 37.9% in 2023. Decreases, however, were reported in math and reading scores with 28.8% of students testing proficient in math in 2024 compared to 43.4% in 2023 and 38.3% proficient in reading in 2024 compared to 47.8% in 2023.

Hawthorne Elementary School saw decreases in all subject areas with 27% proficient in math in 2024 compared to 35.9% in 2023; 30.1% proficient in reading in 2024 compared to 33.5% in 2023; and 28.6% proficient in science in 2024 compared to 30.2% in 2023.

Southwest Middle School saw reductions in proficiency in both math and reading with 24.3% proficient in math in 2024 compared to 26.1% in 2023 and 34.6% proficient in reading in 2024 compared to 37.1% in 2023.

Albert Lea High School’s numbers decreased from 29.7% proficient in math in 2023 to 27.7% in 2024; 41.5% proficient in reading in 2023 to 38.7% in reading in 2024; and 26.6% proficient in science in 2023 to 23.5% in 2024.

Data was not available for the Area Learning Center or the Albert Lea Online Academy.

The Department of Education also released statistics related to attendance, specifically the number of students attending school regularly. A student is considered consistently attending if they attend more than 90% of the time the student is enrolled during the year.

The district as a whole had 67.2% consistent attendance compared to 74.5% statewide.

Statewide, 45.5% of students were proficient in math standards and 49.9% were proficient in reading standards.