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Tuesday, September 9, 2025

41% of Watonwan County students meet or exceed reading MCA expectations on tests in 2023-24 school year

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Willie Jett Commissioner of Education Minnesota Department of Education | Office of Gov. Tim Walz

Willie Jett Commissioner of Education Minnesota Department of Education | Office of Gov. Tim Walz

Watonwan County saw 41% of their students pass the reading portion of the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA) in the 2023-24 school year, according to the ["Minnesota Department of Education", "Watonwan County"].

Of the 999 students who took part in the MCA, 33.9% met the testing standard while 7.1% exceeded expectations and scored highest on the test.

The passing rate among Watonwan County students grew by 1.3% 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.

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%.

Percent of Watonwan County Students Meeting Reading Standards During 2023-24 School Year
School nameStudents who met standards (%)Students who exceed standards (%)
Butterfield Elementary School34.4%4.9%
Butterfield Secondary School25.5%3.9%
Madelia Elementary School32.4%7.4%
Madelia Secondary School33.1%9.3%
St. James Middle/High School33.3%6.7%
St. James Northside Elementary School38.3%7.4%

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