Academic Results for Lucy Laney and Jenny Lind Students >>>>> Academic Years Ending in 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017 >>>>> and the Mauri Melander Question

For several years, Lucy Laney PK-5 in North Minneapolis has been under the leadership of Mauri Melander, a principal well-regarded among central administrative staff and members of the Minneapolis Public Schools Board of Education.  But as the table given below reveals, grade level achievement at Lucy Laney has been no better than twenty-seven percent (27%) for mathematics, seventeen percent (17%) for reading, and seventeen percent (17%) for science.  There were substantial gains from the academic year ending in 2015 to the academic year ending in 2016, but only slight rises occurred from the academic year ending in 2016 to the academic year ending in 2017.

 

Also, as the table below indicates, the demographically similar North Minneapolis school of Jenny Lind PK-5 recorded similar results and followed a comparable academic year by academic year pattern to that of Lucy Laney.

 

These facts call in to question the degree of Melander’s effectiveness.  Whatever her array of skills as principal, she may have topped out under the currently weak curriculum and teaching staff at the Minneapolis Public Schools.  A school district leadership that is satisfied with achievement levels that only feature about one-quarter (or fewer, in the cases of reading and science) of students achieving grade level performance should make dramatic adjustments or prepare to resign.

 

Results such as those given below strongly indicate the need for overhaul of curriculum for knowledge intensity and skill development, and the training of teachers capable of imparting such a curriculum, so as to give principals Mauri Melander (Lucy Laney) and Delon Smith (jenny Lind) the chance to demonstrate what they can do with curriculum and teachers of excellence.

 

Consider  >>>>>   

 

Summary of MCA and All Assessment Data for Lucy Laney PK-5---  Academic Years ending in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017

 

Percentage of Students Recording Grade Level Performance on MCAs and all Assessments:

for Academic Years Ending in 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017

 

2014          2015       2016        2017

Math

 

MCA                               13%             13%       24%        27%                  

 

All Assessments           13%             15%       24%      27%    -

                                            

Reading

 

MCA                                 9%             10%       13%        17%                  

 

All Assessments           10%             12%       13%      18%    -

                                            

Science

 

MCA                                  6%                5%        8%      17%     -

All Assessment                7%               6%       8%      17%

 

Summary of MCA and All Assessment Data for Jenny Lind PK-5---  Academic Years ending in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017

 

Percentage of Students Recording Grade Level Performance on MCAs and all Assessments:

for Academic Years Ending in 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017

 

2014          2015       2016        2017

Math

 

MCA                                19%           20%         29%        28%                  

 

All Assessments            20%           27%         30%       29%   -

                                            

Reading

 

MCA                                15%             21%       23%        26%                  

 

All Assessments            17%             22%       24%       26%   -

                                            

Science

 

MCA                                11%             13%     16%        18%     -

 

All Assessments            13%             13%     19%        18%