MCA

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Statewide assessments are tests given to Minnesota students each spring. For more information on statewide testing in Minnesota, visit the Minnesota Department of Education webpage on statwide testing HERE.

The Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA) measures the success of instruction based on the Minnesota Academic Standards.  Results can be used to see if students are mastering key content knowledge and attaining the skills necessary for future success in education and the workforce. Third, fourth, and fifth grade students will take the MCA-Reading and Math assessments, which are computer-adaptive tests (a computer algorithm adjusts the difficulty of passages/questions in real time based on how the test taker answered previous items).  Fifth grade students will also take the MCA-Science, which is linear (the same questions for each student). 

Special education students who meet alternate assessment participation guidelines may take Minnesota's alternate assessment, the Minnesota Test of Academic Skills (MTAS) or Alternate Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (Alt MCA). MTAS and Alt MCA is a performance-based assessment in reading, mathematics and science for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. It is the alternate assessment to the MCA, and has substantial reductions in the complexity of the academic content standards.

The Waite Park MCA 2027 Testing Schedule will be posted April 2027.

Click HERE to access MCA Student Readiness Tools.