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Saturday, September 13, 2025

47.6% of Benton 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

Benton County saw 47.6% 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", "Benton County"].

Of the 3,567 students who took part in the MCA, 36.5% met the testing standard while 11.1% exceeded expectations and scored highest on the test.

The passing rate among Benton County students grew by 0.2% 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 Benton County Students Meeting Reading Standards During 2023-24 School Year
School nameStudents who met standards (%)Students who exceed standards (%)
Foley Elementary School40.4%17.3%
Foley Intermediate Elementary School43.2%14.7%
Foley Senior High School30.4%13.6%
Lincoln Elementary School23.4%2.4%
Mississippi Heights Elementary School38.8%7.3%
Pleasantview Elementary School42.9%10.6%
Rice Elementary School44.4%9.6%
Sauk Rapids-Rice Middle School32.8%10.9%
Sauk Rapids-Rice Senior High School31.3%15.1%

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