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Testing, Assessments & Grading

Hilltop Primary School consistently demonstrates academic excellence across all grade levels. Year after year, our students outperform their national and state peers on standardized assessments.

Students working at desk

Main Contact

Mark Femrite
Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning
femritem@westonka.k12.mn.us
(952) 491-8002

Fast Facts

Standardized Testing

Westonka's Minnesota standardized test scores regularly rank among the best in the state. The Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments-III are the State of Minnesota's tool for measuring compliance with the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).

Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCAs)

Overall in 2025, Westonka was #1 in the state in both math and reading

District Math Reading
Westonka 75 77
Minnetonka 75 75
Orono 73 72
Wayzata 72 72
Waconia 65 63
Statewide Average 45 50

*Rankings reflect 2025 combined MCA and MTAS statewide results from school districts testing at least 100 students in the grade level. Results show percentage of students scoring "proficient" and above.

Resources

Minnesota Report Card

Statewide Assessments: Parent/Guardian Participation Guide and Refusal Information

2025 Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment Results (Printable PDF)

District & State Assessments

Standards Based Grading

Grades that are valid, reliable and transparent provide an accurate reflection of the knowledge and skills students have mastered.

Report Card FAQ

Grades that are valid, reliable and transparent provide an accurate reflection of the knowledge and skills students have mastered.

What is Standards Based Learning?

Standards Based Learning (SBL) is a grading system used in many schools across the country. This approach focuses on progress toward statewide standards for each course.

  • Each course has standards that are grouped into components.
  • Your child's progress toward each component will be evaluated, and students will receive ongoing feedback about their progress.
  • Your child's personal management, which includes behavior, effort and timeliness, will be reported separately at the end of each term.
How does a four level grading scale work?

The standards based grading scale of Beginning Standard, Approaching Standard, Meets Standard and Extends Standard does not translate to an A through F grading scale.

The expected outcome for students in first through fourth grade is a Meets Standard. When a student receives a Meets Standard is correlates to the student meeting all grade level expectations for that particular standard at a proficient level.

On occasion, students may be given the opportunity to extend the standard. This usually involves going in-depth in a particular topic or moving to the a higher grade level standard.

What should I expect my student to receive for a grade on their report card?

Students will receive a variety of grades based on the standard and expectations. Ultimately, the goal for each student is to receive a Meets Standard (MET) on their report card. When a student receives a Meets Standard (MET) it correlates to the student meeting all grade level expectations for that particular standard at a proficient level. Students in GATES programs are expected to receive a Meets Standard (MET) according to the GATES standards and expectations based on accelerated Minnesota State Standards.

How will the grade level scale be communicated on the report card?
Beginning Standard (BEG) The student has not met the grade level expectation
Approaching Standard (APR) The student is approaching grade level expectations
Meets Standard (MET) The student has met grade level expectations
Extends Standard (EXT) The student has met grade level expectations and can apply skills and content beyond grade level standards

 

What are the guiding beliefs of Standards Based Learning?

Research has shown measuring students' progress based on district and state standards is most effective in advancing learning. Standards Based Learning ensures that students' "grades" clearly represent their level of mastery of grade-level learning targets. The best preparation for the world beyond school is to learn essential content and skills well.