By Chad Koenen

Publisher

The New York Mills School District continues to be above the state average on the state standardized tests in Minnesota.

During its regularly scheduled meeting last week, NY Mills School Superintendent Adam Johnson said the school district did well across the board last year as it exceeded the state proficiency average at every grade level. 

“We are doing better in everything and a higher average than the state,” said Johnson about the district as a whole. “We have been going up gradually.”

Among the highlights of the state standardized tests were at the third grade level in which 72.9 percent of students were deemed proficient, compared to just 58.6 percent of students statewide. The fourth grade also did quite well when compared to the state average as 78.9 percent of students at NY Mills School were deemed proficient in reading, compared to 56.5 percent of students statewide. 

The fifth and seventh graders also exceeded the state average in reading by approximately 20 percent as well. The junior class had 58 percent of students deemed proficient in reading, compared to just 34.7 percent of students across the state. 

Johnson said he is pleased with the district test scores as a whole, but especially in the elementary wing of the school. He said the foundation for their future education begins in the earliest of grades and sets students up for future success.

“(I am) very proud of what has been happening in the elementary school, because what happens that way comes our way,” he said.

The state standardized tests are given each spring to Minnesota students across the state. 

Science tests were given to students in grades fifth, eighth and 10th grade. 

Reading is given to all students in grades 3-8 and 10th. 

Math is given to students in grades 3-8 and 11th.

Students who meet or exceed state standards are deemed proficient in that subject matter, while students who do not meet state standards are deemed as not proficient.

NY Mills test results include:

Third grade: reading- 72.9 percent proficient (state average 58.6 percent proficient); math- 58.6 percent proficient (state average 46.3 percent proficient)

Fourth grade: reading- 78.9 percent proficient (state average 56.5 percent proficient); math- 57.9 percent proficient (state average 47.9 percent proficient)

Fifth grade: reading- 63.3 percent proficient (state average 44 percent proficient); math- 61.2 percent proficient (state average 57.4 percent proficient); science- 65.3 percent proficient (state average 44.8)

Sixth grade: reading- 45.3 percent proficient (state average 40 percent proficient); math- 57.8 percent proficient (state average 54.6 percent proficient)

Seventh grade: reading- 60 percent proficient (state average 40 percent proficient); math- 50.9 percent proficient (state average 45.4 percent proficient)

Eighth grade: reading- 52.7 percent proficient (state average 48 percent proficient); math- 45.9 percent proficient (state average 44.3 percent proficient); science- 37.8 percent proficient (state average 29.8 percent proficient)

Tenth grade: math- 62.7 percent proficient (state average 52 percent proficient); science- 56.9 percent proficient (state average 43.1 percent proficient)

Eleventh grade: reading- 58 percent proficient (state average 34.7 percent proficient)

In other news

• Acknowledged the following donations: $250 from the East Otter Tail County Ag Society for FFA, a $500 donation from Perham Health for the volleyball program and $1,500 donation from Lakes Area Community Cooperative for general expenses. 

• Heard the elementary report from principal Judith Brockway who updated the school board on the first few weeks of school and the LETTERS program training. The training is part of a state mandate to train all teachers who instruct students in reading.

• Heard the high school report from principal Michelle Young who updated the school board on the beginning of the year testing for things like Fastbridge which provides benchmark testing for reading and math. The testing program is a screening test that has been used in the elementary level for a number of years but not in the high school. Young said the test adapts to the level of the student as the test continues to help staff members tell staff where the students are at and potentially look for students in need of intervention training. 

• Young updated the school board on the use of phones by students throughout the school day. She said the students have been great and placed the phones in the cubbies and storage units in each classroom and they have not been a distraction this year.

• Approved setting the 2025 preliminary tax levy at the maximum, which would increase the total district levy by 16.42 percent next year (the general fund levyw9ould increase by 28.15 percent, the community service levy would increase by 6.54 percent and the debt service levy would increase by 8.67 percent). The preliminary tax levy can be decreased, but not increased, when it is finalized later this year. 

• Approved the following appointments: Tristan Westman as paraprofessional, Alina Schumacher as paraprofessional, Heidi Meekins as paraprofessional, Dinee Dykhoff as a long-term sub, Zach Hocking as JV softball coach, Joan Nelson as paraprofessional for two days a week and Katelyn Tervo as paraprofessional for two days a week.

• Approved the resignation of Debra Blomberg.