Highland Elementary School has released the test scores from the 2022-23 school year, which show Highland School scoring above the state average in Mathematics and reading.
Encumbered results were released at the end of the school year last year when staff at Highland School were able to review the scores. The unencumbered results were released to the public at the beginning of this school year. “Every year, Highland does better and better; this is the best we’ve ever done for the ten years that I’ve been here,” said Highland Elementary School Principal Chris Trostad, “For the reading achievement levels, the state average is about 47.6% are considered to be proficient which means they’re a 50% or above on their MCA scores, and we scored 54.2%.” For the reading portion of the MCA, Highland School scores approximately 7% better than the state average.
The Mathematics portion showed a more comprehensive gap from Highland School compared to the state average, with 52.1% of Highland students being proficient in this subject compared to the rest of the state, averaging 42.8%, an increase of nearly 10%. “This has been fun to see because we continue to widen that gap,” said Trostad, “We want to be better than the state average, and be as far above the state average as possible. So I’m impressed with what our students and teachers did last year.”
Highland also places students in “Does not meet” or “Partial meets” categories for those struggling in certain subjects. The “Partial meets” category is one level below proficiency. The goal of each institution is to move students into the proficiency categories rather than the lower classes. Highland School can move more students in the right direction.
The North Star report showed 81.9% of Highland Elementary ELL students scored within 75% of the target that the State of Minnesota set for the standardized tests. The state average ELL students achieving the target goal was 47.3%. ELL students are students who cannot yet communicate fluently or learn effectively in English.
The Highland School students that met or exceeded their target was 58.3%, and the state average was 28.9%. That is nearly 30% above the state average.
Highland School reportedly spent less state and local money than the state average last year. “We spent more federal money, which is a lot of grant money. We have a Federal Title One grant,” said Trostad, “It’s nice to know for our taxpayers, and nobody wants to pay more than we have to, but I’m always excited knowing that our taxpayers are getting the best bang for their buck.”
Highland School spent $13,726.12 per student last year, whereas the state average spent $14,036.42, which is nearly one thousand dollars less per student. Highland School also used 86.79% of available state and local funding compared to the state average of 90.97%.
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