Newsletters 2018-19 Focus newsletter, [2] Fall | Page 2

PREPARING STUDENTS FOR LIFE
Blaine sophomore
selected for Minn.
Youth Council
Ten seniors named
National Merit
Scholarship semifinalists
Ten Anoka-Hennepin seniors
have been named National Merit
Scholarship semifinalists, and are
in the running to earn one of the
7,500 scholarships of up to $2,500
for college.
Nicholas Armstrong, Blaine High
School sophomore, was appointed to
serve on the Minnesota Youth Council
(MYC), a nonpartisan, statewide coun-
cil that empowers youth and advises
the Governor, Legislature and
Minnesota Department of Education.
Armstrong is one of 36 MYC mem-
bers, and one of four representatives
for Congressional District 6, which
includes the city of Blaine. On the
council, Armstrong will be part of
the group’s policy committee and
will meet with state Senators and
Representatives during the session to
make sure the voice of Minnesota’s
youth is being heard in government. n
Coon Rapids junior
attends national
health care initiative
PAGE 2
The students: Anoka High
School seniors Lauren Bastian and
Michael Goldenstein; Blaine High
School seniors Camryn Heinen,
Clayton Paquin, Alexis Wagenfeld,
and Brandon Wagenfeld; and
Champlin Park High School
seniors Andrew Coenen, Kailey
Johnson, Vincent Kroll, and
Zachary Tverberg.
The 10 Anoka-Hennepin stu-
dents join approximately 16,000
semifinalists nationally who have
an opportunity to become
National Merit Scholars.
Anoka-Hennepin’s National
Merit semifinalists had to score in
the top 1 percent in the state on
the Preliminary SAT test, which
was administered last year when
students were juniors. More than
1.6 million juniors in more than
22,000 high schools took that test,
officials say.
The next step for the 10 semifi-
nalists is to submit a detailed
scholarship application, in which
they provide information about
their academic record, participa-
tion in school and community
Sponsored by the Association of
American Indian Physicians, NNAYI is
an intense, week-long program
designed to prepare and motivate
Native American students to pursue a
career in health care or biomedical
research, an industry chronically
under represented by Native American
workers.
Johnson-Swenson, who is Ojibwe
from the Grand Portage Indian
Reservation in northern Minnesota, is
enrolled in the Anoka-Hennepin School
District’s Indian Education program and
also the Biomedical Sciences program
at Coon Rapids High School. n
Last year Anoka-Hennepin had
four National Merit semifinalists,
three of whom — Sarah Ganion and
Jian Zheng, of Andover High
School, and Grace Worwa, of
Champlin Park High School — went
on to be named National Merit
Scholars. n
Schools demonstrate excellence,
exceed state average in reading,
math and science
The state of Minnesota rolled out a new accountability
system for schools this year and the results for Anoka-
Hennepin continue to outpace state averages.
The new North Star accountability system, analyzes
data on proficiency, attendance, progress on state tests
over time, English language proficiency, and graduation
rates. Schools can be recognized as excellent or priori-
tized for support as part of the new system. A noticeable
difference, is that the report includes the factor(s) that
led to schools being identified.
Of Anoka-Hennepin’s 35 traditional schools, 20 were
recognized as excellent including elementary, middle
and high schools. Math progress, reading progress and
the high level of attendance for multiple demographic
groups were reasons for these Anoka-Hennepin schools
excelling. The report includes schools in each of the five
cluster areas of the district, Andover, Anoka, Blaine,
Champlin Park, and Coon Rapids.
Coon Rapids High School junior
Destiny Johnson-Swenson was one of
20 Native American students in the
country to attend the National Native
American Youth Initiative (NNAYI) in
Washington, D.C. this past summer.
activities, demonstrated leadership
abilities, employment, honors and
awards received, among other
requirements. Finalists will be
announced in February.
Four Anoka-Hennepin high schools were selected for
various levels of support regarding four-year graduation
rates. Anoka, Blaine, Champlin Park and Coon Rapids
high schools will continue to focus on improving the
graduation rate for special education students this
school year.
Taking a look strictly at test scores, Anoka-Hennepin
students are significantly outperforming state averages
in math, reading and science, and among nearly every
demographic group.
On the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment
(MCA) tests, which assess levels of proficiency in the
three core subjects, math, reading and science, 64.6
percent of Anoka-Hennepin’s students are proficient
in math, which is 7.4 percent higher than the state
average. 65.4 percent of district students are proficient
in reading, which is 5.5 percent higher than the state
average. In science, 61.4 percent of students are
proficient, which is 9.4 percent higher than the state
average.
MCA Percentage above state average
Anoka-Hennepin student demographics are
nearly identical to the entire state. Comparing
district performance to the state average is
one indicator used to measure and compare
academic performance.
80
70
Reading
60
59.9%
65.4%
District
State
50
40
District 65.4%
State
59.9%
30
20
10
0
80
Math
70
60
57.2%
64.6%
District
State
50
District 64.6%
State
57.2%
40
30
20
10
0
80
Science
District 61.4%
State
52.0%
70
60
50
52.0%
61.4%
District
State
40
30
20
10
0
“These positive results reflect the collective work of
our dedicated staff and supportive community,” said
Superintendent David Law. “It’s great to see progress,
but we will not be satisfied until every student is profi-
cient and succeeds. Anoka-Hennepin is continuing to
strive to meet the needs of every student.”
Report cards for each Anoka-Hennepin school,
detailing full North Star accountability results, can be
found on the Minnesota Department of Education
website, http://rc.education.state.mn. n
“ It’s great to see progress, but we will not be satisfied until every
student is proficient and succeeds. Anoka-Hennepin is continuing
to strive to meet the needs of every student. ”
– Superintendent David Law