Building on Progress, Continuing the Work: 2025–26 MCA Results

As we work to inspire and empower every student at St. Louis Park Public Schools, we’re proud of the work of our students, educators and staff. The Minnesota Department of Education has released the 2025–26 Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA) results, and our district results are at or above statewide averages in reading, math and science.

These results come at a time of extraordinary change and disruption for Minnesota schools. Students and educators are implementing new, more rigorous academic standards, while schools have also navigated disruptions in federal funding and the impacts of Operation Metro Surge.

These challenges were not happening in isolation. They were happening while students were in classrooms trying to learn, and during the same spring when they were asked to demonstrate that learning on the MCA.

More than three in four schools statewide reported increased student absences associated with Operation Metro Surge.

In the Twin Cities Metro, 95% of school leaders reported increased absences, and 95% reported that the operation negatively impacted students’ ability to learn. (Minnesota Truth Council).

For perspective, that means nearly every school leader surveyed in the Twin Cities Metro saw an impact on student attendance. Nearly every one reported an impact on students’ ability to learn. This is important context when looking at any measure of student achievement from this period.

Adding to the complexity, Minnesota has changed statewide assessments aligned with updated academic standards. The Science MCA-IV was introduced in 2025, followed by the new Reading MCA-IV in 2026. Because these assessments measure updated standards and use independently established performance levels, results cannot be directly compared with previous versions.

Despite these changes, St. Louis Park students are meeting or exceeding statewide averages across subjects. We are proud of that progress, and we also know that meeting state averages is not the finish line. There are opportunities to strengthen academic achievement and rigor, and we are continuing this work with our educators and students.

Paving a new road forward

St. Louis Park Public Schools is playing a role in shaping the future of student assessment across Minnesota. 

Dr. Silvy Lafayette, Executive Director of Assessment, Research and Evaluation, has been appointed to a new statewide task force charged with examining Minnesota’s assessment system. The commissioner-appointed task force will consider whether current assessments are providing the most meaningful information to understand and improve student success, while also examining assessment models used in other states.

“We are very proud of our educators and teaching staff who work hard every day to support our learners,” said Dr. Lafayette. “It’s important for us to review the testing model now so that our actions can support future students.”

Dr. Lafayette’s appointment gives St. Louis Park Public Schools a seat at the table in a statewide effort to examine how Minnesota measures learning and how assessment results can better support student success.

What the results show

Across the district, St. Louis Park students performed at or above statewide averages in the three subjects assessed through the MCA. Several schools and subject areas exceeded statewide results:

• St. Louis Park Middle School: Exceeded the statewide average in science by 4%.
• St. Louis Park High School: Exceeded the statewide average in math by 6%.
• Park Spanish Immersion: Exceeded statewide averages in reading, math and science.
• Aquila and Peter Hobart: Results were at or near statewide averages.
• Susan Lindgren: Exceeded the statewide average in reading and math.

Scroll through the interactive graphs to view each schools scores.

Continuing to invest in professional learning for our staff

This work is ongoing. MCA results provide one source of information that helps us understand where students are demonstrating success and where we need to continue strengthening their learning.

Over the past year, we have continued building structures that support educators in their work. Professional learning has focused on areas including Depth of Knowledge, Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), Collaborative Classroom and culturally responsive practices.

Our instructional coaching model has also created additional opportunities for educators to collaborate around student learning, instructional practices and alignment to state standards.