Early Childhood Screening is a free, developmental check-up required by the State of Minnesota for all preschool-aged children (ages three to five) before attending public school. Please visit the Early Childhood Screening page for more information and forms.

Results of the Teaching Strategies GOLD Assessment are used to plan instruction and personalized learning for each student.

Kindergarten assessments take place Tuesday and Wednesday after Labor Day. The 30-minute assessment period gives teachers, parents and students an important opportunity to engage one-on-one before the first day of school on Thursday. Kindergarten teachers assess each child's math and reading skills in a welcoming environment to gain a very early picture of students' unique needs.

• Math assessment could include: number recognition, number writing, counting, shape recognition and other early math skills
• Reading assessment could include: letter recognition (including upper and lowercase), letter sounds, rhyming, ability to read high-frequency words and other early reading skills

Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA)

MCAs are mandated by the state of Minnesota. They help schools and districts measure student progress toward the state’s academic standards.

Grade	Test	Testing Window
3-4	MCA Reading and Math	March 6-May 5
5	MCA Reading, Math and Science	March 6-May 12

Reading Fluency checks

Students reading fluency is assessed three times a year to measure progress in oral reading fluency (a measure of reading accuracy and rate). It also has a high correlation with students’ reading comprehension. Learn more about reading fluency assessments in Minnetonka schools.

Grade	Test	Testing Window
K-5	Reading Fluency	September 8-October 7
K-5	Reading Fluency	January 3-31
K-5	Reading Fluency	April 18-June 8

Math Benchmark

Students are assessed, as needed, three times a year to measure progress toward mastery of state math standards.

Grade	Test	Testing Window
K-5, as needed	Math Benchmark	September 8-October 7
K-5, as needed	Math Benchmark	January 3-31
K-5, as needed	Math Benchmark	April 18-June 8

district writing assessments

District writing assessments are used in part to determine language arts, math, science and global studies placement. See the Middle School Academic Honors page for details on placement criteria.

Grade	Test	Testing Window
5-7	District Writing Assessments	February 13-March 24

Pre-Algebra Assessment

Administered to 5th grade students for placement in Pre-Algebra in 6th grade.

Grade	Test	Testing Window
5	Pre-Algebra Assessment	April 18-May 5

NWEA measures of academic progress

The Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) assessment determines your child's instructional level and measures academic growth from year to year in mathematics, reading and science. They are computer-based adaptive tests (presenting easier or more challenging questions based on incorrect or correct responses) that pinpoint each student's instructional level. Learn more about NWEA testing.

Grade	Test	Testing Window
K-5*	NWEA Reading and Math	September 13-October 7 December 19-January 20, if needed April 18-May 5
5*	NWEA Science	April 11-21

*Results from the 5th grade NWEA tests are used to help determine placement in honors or accelerated coursework in middle school. See the Middle School Academic Honors page for more information on placement criteria.

Language Immersion Tests IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Students in Chinese and Spanish Immersion are tested to establish an academic baseline and measure language proficiency.

Grade	Test	Testing Window
1-2 Spanish	Istation	Sept. 7-30
K-5 Spanish	FAST Reading	Sept. 7-Oct. 7
K-5 Immersion	Integrated Performance Assessment (IPA)	Second Semester
K Spanish	Istation	January 3-31
K-5 Spanish	FAST Reading	January 3-31
3-5 Immersion	STAMP 4Se Reading, Speaking, and Listening	March 6-24
K-5 Spanish	FAST Reading	April 18-June 8
1-3 Chinese	YCT (Levels 2-4)	May
5 Chinese	YCT (Level 5)	May
K-2 Spanish	Istation	May 1-31

Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA)

MCAs are mandated by the state of Minnesota. They help schools and districts measure student progress toward the state’s academic standards.

Grade	Test	Testing Window
6-7	MCA Reading and Math	March 6-May 5
8	MCA Reading, Math and Science	March 6-May 12

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MATH BENCHMARK

Students in 6th through 8th grades, who receive additional math support, are assessed, as needed, three times a year to measure progress toward mastery of state math standards.

Grade	Test	Testing Window
6-8 needing extra support, as needed	Math Benchmark	September 8-October 7 January 3-31 April 18-June 8

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DISTRICT WRITING ASSESSMENTS

District writing assessments are used in part to determine language arts, math, science and global studies placement. See the Middle School Academic Honors page for details on placement criteria.

Grade	Test	Testing Window
6-7	District Writing Assessments	February 13-March 24

 NWEA TESTS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL

The Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) tests determine your child's instructional level and measure academic growth from year to year in mathematics, reading and science. They are adaptive tests (presenting more challenging questions as a child answers correctly) that pinpoint each student's instructional level. Learn more about the NWEA tests.

Grade	Test	Timeframe
6-8	NWEA Reading and Math	September 13-October 7 December 19-January 20, if needed April 18-May 26
6	NWEA Science	April 18-May 26

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LANGUAGE IMMERSION TESTS IN Middle SCHOOL

Students in Chinese and Spanish Immersion are tested to measure language proficiency.

Grade	Test	Testing Window
6-8	Integrated Performance Assessment (IPA)	Second semester
6, 8	STAMP Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking	February 1-24
7 Chinese	HSK Assessment (Level 4)	May

Official PSAT/NMSQT* Test Wednesday, October 12 at MHS

Learn More and Register by September 21

Junior Year

Even if students do not plan to take the SAT, they must take the PSAT as a junior to be considered for the National Merit Scholarship Competition. MHS juniors are encouraged to take the PSAT, offered during the school day at MHS.

Students who qualify as National Merit Semifinalists are notified during September of their senior year, about one year after taking the PSAT. National Merit Semifinalists are highly sought college recruits. In addition to National Merit Scholarships, many colleges and universities offer their own significant scholarships that can amount to thousands of dollars each year, half-tuition, etc.

Sophomore year

Sophomores may also take the PSAT 10 test at Minnetonka High School as a practice test before junior year. (PSAT 10 is not considered for entry in the National Merit Scholarship Competition.)

*Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT)

View Information & Dates for the ACT

View Information & Dates for the ACT

REGISTER FOR THE SAT

Grade	Test	Testing Window
10 Immersion	STAMP Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking	February 1-24
Chinese (optional)	HSK Assessment (Level 5 or 6)	May

MINNESOTA COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENTS (MCA)

MCAs are mandated by the state of Minnesota. They help schools and districts measure student progress toward the state’s academic standards.

Grade	Test	Testing Dates
10	MCA Reading (or MTAS)	April 18 - April 21
11	MCA Math (or MTAS)	April 18 - April 21
11	MCA Science (for students who are enrolled in or have completed biology)	April 18 - April 21

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Tonka Online Students will test in the MHS Forum on April 9th, 2024 from 8AM to 2PM. In-person students with a Period 0 or Period 7 class will test in the Back Gym on the makeup days, April 18th and April 19th.

Important Information on Law Requiring MCA Scores Be Used for Course Placement

Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA) scores will soon be used in determining course placement at Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. A student’s MCA score could potentially save them significant money by demonstrating that they do not need to take non-credit bearing developmental courses. Read the full announcement.

WIDA FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS (ELL)

WIDA is a federally mandated test to monitor students' progress in acquiring academic English language proficiency.

Grade	Test	Testing Window
9-12	WIDA ACCESS for ELL	January 30-March 24

Minnetonka High School maintains a Google Drive folder with current AP & IB Exam Information:

AP & IB Exam Info
(Minnetonka Google Account Required)