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Wednesday, October 22, 2025

51.6% of Climax-Shelly Public Schools District students failed the reading portion of the MCA 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

Climax-Shelly Public Schools District registered 51.6% of its students failing the reading portion of the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA) and the Minnesota Test of Academic Skills (MTAS) test in the 2023-24 school year, according to the Minnesota Department of Education.

The number of Climax-Shelly Public Schools District students who failed their reading assessments rose by 20.2% 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.

Data showed that fifth grade students stood out with 23.1% of them exceeding standards in reading, which was the highest recorded proficiency in Climax-Shelly Public Schools District.

On the other hand, third grade students had the most room for improvement, with 76.9% not meeting the expected standards.

Climax-Shelly Public Schools District roughly covers schools within Polk County and has a main office in Climax.

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%.

Failure Rates in Reading During 2023-24 School Year

School NameFailure Rate (%)
Climax Secondary School51.6%
Climax Elementary School51.4%

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