Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment data was released this week, revealing a wide range of results for area schools.

Lincoln Elementary School scored well above the state average in both math and reading, while Lynd School scores show the need for improvement in a number of subgroups tested.

Statewide scores in math and reading showed little change from a year ago. In math, the overall statewide scores showed a slight dip — from 59.5 in 2016 to 58.7 this year.

Lincoln Elementary, a pre-K through sixth-grade school in Ivanhoe, posted an overall math proficiency score of 85.3 percent — up from 78.4 last year and 81.0 in 2015.

“The Ivanhoe School District has a long history of high achievement with their students, and the 2017 MCA results continue to be top-notch,” said Dan Deitte, who serves as superintendent at Lincoln Elementary as well as at Minneota Public School. “The district focuses heavily on the Minnesota standards and embeds them into their curriculum. With the students mastering these standards, it shows in their results on the MCAs.”

While the third-, fifth- and sixth-grade levels had too few students for the Minnesota Department of Education to accurately analyze individually, the fourth-grade students tested exceptionally well. While fourth-graders statewide recorded an average 66.8 percent proficiency rate, Lincoln Elementary fourth-graders had a 90.9 percent average proficiency rate.

“Lincoln Elementary has small class sizes, which allows the teachers to work closely with the students,” Deitte said. “It also allows the teachers to make important connections.”

While the overall state reading scores showed a slight increase — from 58.9 in 2016 to 60.2 this year — scores at Lincoln Elementary showed a much greater gain. Overall, the Ivanhoe students were 67.6 percent proficient in reading, which is well above the state average (60.2).

“The teachers at Lincoln Elementary have high expectations for their students, and this shows in the MCA results,” Deitte said.

Lincoln Elementary fourth-graders compiled a 63.6 percent proficiency rate, compared the state average of 57.0. The other elementary grade levels could not accurately be recorded, though third-grade scores from a year ago show that at 72.7 percent proficient, the students were well above the state average. Ivanhoe third-graders also showed stellar reading scores (81.8 percent proficiency) from 2015.

“I want to congratulate the students and staff of Lincoln Elementary for the great results on this year’s MCA tests,” Deitte said.

Overall Lynd School results in reading show a 34.6 percent proficiency. Of the 78 students tests — grades 3-8 at Lynd — 13 are English Language learners. The EL students showed a 7.7 percent proficiency rate compared to the state average of 14.7. A total of 17 were categorized as special education, scoring 17.6 percent compared to the state’s 30.4. Free and reduced students scored 24.6 proficient, while the state average is 40.9.

Third-graders posted a reading score of 26.7 — down from 52.6 from a year ago. Fourth-graders were 47.6 percent proficient, while fifth-graders were 50 percent.

Lynd was also below the state average in math. Overall, Lynd posted a 26.9 percent proficiency — down from 35.9 in 2016. Seventh-graders recorded low (18.2) proficiency, as did fifth-graders (21.4). None of the EL students were proficient in math — the state average is 20.7 — nor were any special education students — the state average is 29.9. Free and reduced lunch students recorded a 14.0 — down from 23.5 last year and compared to the state average (38.5 percent) this year.

For more information, go to Minnesota Report Card at http://rc.education.state.mn.us.