District presents layered picture of student achievement; board hears 'story behind the data'

District leaders told the Minnetonka School Board on Wednesday that while many assessment measures remain strong, deeper analysis is needed to interpret proficiency metrics and to guide instruction. Associate Superintendent Dr. Amy LeDoux and Matt Breen, director of research, analysis and systemic improvement, presented a combined view of MCAs, NWEA MAP, FastBridge (early reading), ACT, and AP/IB exam data from the 2024–25 school year. "We're excited to be here tonight to provide you with an update on our student progress from the 2024–25 school year," LeDoux said. Breen emphasized conditional growth as a more specific measure than the simple met‑growth metric: rather than reporting only whether a student met a fixed growth target, conditional growth compares each student to national peers who started at the same fall score. He used a specific student example: a fifth grader who moved from the 1st to the 8th percentile nationally but achieved conditional growth outperforming 94% of national peers with the same starting point. Key takeaways: - State MCAs: Minnetonka ranked first among neighboring districts in math for 2025 and third in reading; participation rates remain high. - NWEA MAP results show many Minnetonka students scoring well above grade level in reading and math; Breen cautioned about ceiling effects for higher-performing cohorts (e.g., sixth grade). - ACT: The number of test attempts per student has declined since 2020, with 48% of students taking the ACT only once in 2025 compared with 24% in 2020; administrators said recent college testing policy changes and shorter test formats may influence participation and averages. - AP/IB: AP passing rates and total AP exams remain strong (89.9% of exam takers scored 3 or higher in 2025); IB saw a decline in total exams taken (16% drop since 2023) and administrators said growth in Vantage program enrollments contributed — many Vantage students take a single IB business exam and do not take multiple IB exams. - Third grade: board members and staff noted a modest decline in third‑grade MCA proficiency from 2024 to 2025; detailed cross‑assessment analysis showed that of 305 third graders not proficient on the MCA, 189 had more than a year's growth on the NWEA and an overall 89.3% of students met at least one indicator of progress. Board members asked for continued building-level analysis of possible contributing factors (including behavioral metrics and pandemic-era cohort effects) and for ongoing use of conditional growth measures to guide instruction. No formal action was required; staff said they will provide similar annual updates and drill-down reports to inform instruction and interventions.