Overview
- The Minnesota Department of Education posted 2025 Science MCA results showing 25.7% of students met or exceeded proficiency.
- Proficiency was 26.1% in fifth grade, 16% in eighth grade, and 36.2% in high school.
- State officials say the new assessment emphasizes applying scientific methods and added constructed-response items that were expected to depress scores initially.
- MDE cautions that results are not comparable to the old test, which recorded 39.6% proficiency in 2024, and says transitions may affect scores for several years.
- Districts report licensure mismatches and a shortage of aligned materials despite temporary staffing flexibility, and advocates warn resource gaps could widen disparities.