Minnetonka Public Schools Testing and Assessment program incorporates state-wide testing, local standardized testing, and classroom assignments and observation to provide a complete profile of student achievement and curricular strengths and weaknesses. Compared to both national norms and state-wide test results, Minnetonka students perform exceedingly well.

 MCA-II Tests

These tests help schools and districts measure student progress toward the state’s academic standards. The tests are given in grades 3-8, 10 and 11. The science MCA-II’s will be operational in grades 5, 8 and high school. The high school science test is life science, given at the end of the school year when students finish Biology.  The GRAD includes high school tests in reading, writing and mathematics that all students must pass in order to graduate from a public high school in Minnesota. Download the Minnesota Department of Education's brochure, What You Need to Know About the MCA-II/GRAD.

 Reading Fluency Norms by Grade Level

 ECFE Parent Letter

 

2011-2012 Assessment Calendar (Alpha by Test)

ACT Test Dates (more Information)
Date of Test	Registration Deadline
December 10, 2011	November 4, 2011
February 11, 2012	January 13, 2012
April 14, 2012	March 9, 2012
June 9, 2012	May 4, 2012

GRAD Retests - Required to graduate by the State of Minnesota
Grade	Date	Assessment	Type of Assessment
11-12 Retest-for students who remediated in the summer and didn’t test in August	September 13	GRAD Reading and Math	Computer
11-12 Retest-for students who remediated and didn’t test in September	October 4	GRAD Reading and Math	Computer
10-12 Retest ONLY	November 2	Writing	Paper and pencil
11-12 Retest-for students who remediated and didn’t test in November	December 6	GRAD Reading and Math	Computer
11-12 Retest	March 6	GRAD Reading and Math retest	Computer
12 Retest	April 17	Writing	Paper and pencil
12 Retest	May 8	GRAD Reading and Math	Computer

GRAD Retest Summer-Required to Graduate by State of Minnesota Statute requires 8 weeks between each student’s testing events
Grade	Date	Assessment	Type of Assessment
10-12 Retest	July 24	Writing	Paper and pencil
10-12 Retest	July TBD	GRAD Reading/Math	Computer
10-12 Retest	August TBD	GRAD Reading/Math	Computer

ELL Tests
Grade	Date	Assessment	Type of Assessment
K-12	Window is February 6-23	Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking	Computer

MCA II/GRAD: State assessments for Math, Writing and Science
Grade	Date	Assessment	Type of Assessment
Grade 9	April 17	Writing	Paper and pencil
Grades 10 & 11	April 17-18	Reading (10) Math (11)	Paper and pencil
Grades 3-8	April 17-18	Reading	Paper and pencil
Grades 3 & 6	April 24-25	Math	Computer
Grades 4 & 7	April 26-27	Math	Computer
Grades 5 & 8	May 1-2	Math	Computer
Grade 5	May 8-9	Science	Computer
Grade 8	May 9-10	Science	Computer
HS Biology	May 10-11	Science	Computer

NWEA Reading and Math assessments to determine Instructional Level
Grade	Date	Assessment	Type of Assessment
K-8	Fall Testing begins the first full week of September and lasts 3 weeks. Each school sets its own schedule.	Math and Reading	Computer
K-8	Spring Testing window begins the first full week of March and lasts 3 weeks.  Each school sets its own schedule.	Math and Reading	Computer

PLAN and EXPLORE
Grade	Date	Assessment	Type of Assessment
8	October 13	EXPLORE	Paper and pencil
10	October 5	PLAN	Paper and pencil

PSAT (more information)
Grade	Date	Assessment	Type of Assessment
10-11	October 12	PSAT	Paper and pencil

SAT Test Dates (more Information)
Date of Test	Registration Deadline
December 3, 2011	November 8, 2011
January 28, 2012	December 30, 2011
March 10, 2012	February 10, 2012
May 5, 2012	April 6, 2012
June 2, 2012	May 8, 2012