In yet another example of the failure of public schools, at least ten elementary and high schools in two Minnesota school districts have been found to have no students proficient in math, according to a Wednesday report by the Center of the American Experiment — an organization that focuses on state public policy.
These schools, located in the Minneapolis Public School District and the St. Paul Public School District, did not have a single student that met grade level expectations in math during the 2021-2022 school year.
According to the report, the results of the 2022 Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment — a standardized test that determines what students have learned — revealed that 19 school districts state-wide did not have a single student test proficient in math.
“As of the start of the 2022 school year, fewer than half of Minnesota students statewide are proficient in math (44.6 percent), and just under 50 percent can’t read at grade level,” Catrin Wigfall, the report’s author, wrote. “On national assessments, Minnesota reading and math scores are the lowest they have been in 30 years.”
These 19 schools include six traditional public schools, two online public schools and 11 public charter schools. One of the traditional public schools also did not have a single student proficient in reading.
Wigfall went on to note that those who defend the current system “will likely” blame the pandemic for the learning loss — but pointed out that “while school closures certainly exacerbated learning loss, poor and declining student achievement showed itself way before the pandemic.”
BREAKING: In 19 public schools across the state, not a SINGLE STUDENT could do grade-level math during the 2021-22 school year. https://t.co/cIb55vbZeR
— Center of the American Experiment (@MNThinkTank) March 1, 2023
The report comes amid continued revelations over American students’ historic learning loss — with every state reporting drops in K-12 math scores.
Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, tried to defend the failure of public schools by doing exactly what Wigfall predicted — blaming the pandemic.
“The bottom line is everyone suffered in the pandemic.. because of the pandemic,” Weingarten said in October. “The disruption was everywhere, and it was bad regardless of whether schools were remote or in person. We are focused now on the urgent need to help kids recover and thrive.”
Meanwhile, conservatives and libertarians have been calling out the failure of the public school system for some time now, and this news just further confirms their assertions. Without any form of competition to create a better learning environment for children stuck in public schools, these institutions continue to provide children with a poor education. Teachers’ unions are also to blame, as they have become a major influence over the system in favor of defending teachers at all costs rather than the best interests of the children.
The public school system is one of modern society's most disastrous and destructive inventions
— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) August 9, 2020
Minnesota isn’t the only state facing this problem. Fox News host Jesse Watters reported last month that Baltimore, Maryland has 23 schools with no students proficient in math.
Baltimore spends $32,000 per student and their teachers make over six figures when you account for pensions.
Yet 23 Baltimore schools have 0 students are proficient in math.
Parents are furious and politicians don't care. pic.twitter.com/jCDCIZyfJ7
— 1776 Project PAC (@1776ProjectPac) February 14, 2023
