A data report released from the Minnesota Department of Education shows Albert Lea Area Schools has surpassed the state in graduation for Hispanic students and students receiving free and reduced lunch, but “has opportunities for improvement” for Asian and English learner graduation rates, according to a press release.

The data comes from the State of Our Students report and includes 2019 data as part of the Department of Education’s North Star accountability system.

Students receiving free and reduced lunch surpassed the state average by almost 10% to reach a 78.1% graduation rate. Hispanic students also graduated almost 10% above the state average with a 76.7% graduation rate.

The 77.9% four-year graduation rate — a district average based on Albert Lea High School’s graduation rate (86.2%) and the Alternative Learning Center (52.7%) — for Albert Lea Area Schools was unchanged from last year.

The release said Halverson Elementary School had the most significant improvement, leading the district in science proficiency for fifth graders. Those fifth graders also saw a 35% increase in reading performance, the release said.

Superintendent Mike Funk said he was pleased with Halveron students’ performance, as well as the performance of English learner students at the elementary level.

However, the release also said proficiency rates for the district were “skewed” by high opt-out numbers for high school students not taking the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments, the standardized tests used to judge a district’s academic performance.

“The Legislature needs to take a hard look at requiring high school students to take the MCA test, which is meaningless to the student, and negatively impacts district results with the high opt-out rate,” Funk said in the release.

Further reports on student proficiency and growth at building levels will come during school board meetings in September and October.