Minnesota Students Make Small Gains On GRAD Test

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Minnesota students made slight progress this year on standardized tests that determine if they met the state's requirements in math and reading for graduating from high school.

The state Education Department released results Tuesday evening for the 2011 Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments. The test includes the state's Graduation-Required Assessments for Diploma.

Statewide, 79 percent of 10th graders met the state's reading requirement for graduating on their first try, up one percentage point from 2010. In math, 59 percent of 11th graders met the standard, also a one point increase from last year.

However, the share of the state's ninth graders who met the writing standard fell one point to 89 percent.

Students are given several chances to take the test if they don't pass on the first try.

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