By Chad Koenen

Publisher

The Henning School District continues to be one of the top school districts in the region in both reading and math on the annual MCA tests.

During its regularly scheduled meeting last week, the Henning School District heard a report on the state standardized tests from Henning Principal Thomas Williams. He highlighted several achievements by Henning School students, including being the top ranked school in Otter Tail County and Freshwater Education District in terms of proficiency in third grade reading. The third graders were also 19.8 percent higher than the state average in proficiency in reading. 

The seventh grade students were second in reading proficiency in Otter Tail County, as well as Freshwater Education District, while the 10th grade class was third in Otter Tail County and second in Freshwater Education District in terms of proficiency in reading.

As a whole, the Henning School District ranked second in proficiency among all Freshwater Education School Districts.

In math, the Henning fourth grade ranked first in proficiency amongst all Otter Tail County and Freshwater Education Districts, while the third grade ranked second among Otter Tail County School Districts and third among the Freshwater Education District. 

The fourth grade math proficiency was also 24 percent higher than the state average, and the fifth grade students were ranked third in proficiency among Freshwater Education School Districts.

In science, the sophomore class ranked third in proficiency among Freshwater Education School Districts.

Henning School proficiency percentages at Henning School include:

• Third grade- reading- 65.6 percent (46.8 percent state average); math- 71.9 percent (57.9 percent state average)

• Fourth grade- reading- 50 percent (48.8 percent state average); math- 79.2 percent (55.2 percent state average)

• Fifth grade- reading- 58.1 percent (54.5 percent state average); math- 48.4 percent (41.9 percent state average); science- 19.4 percent (25.9 percent state average)

• Sixth grade- reading- 53.1 percent (53.4 percent state average); math- 34.4 percent (39.5 percent state average)

• Seventh grade- reading- 56.3 percent (43.5 percent state average); math- 37.5 percent (40.3 percent state average)

• Eighth grade- reading- 42.4 percent (50 percent state average); math- 42.3 percent (30.3 percent state average); science- 9.1 percent (16.7 percent state average)

• 10th grade- reading- 52 percent (42.5 percent state average); science- 44 percent (35 percent state average)

• 11th grade- math- 10 percent (35.3 percent state average)

In other news

• Heard the principal’s report that highlighted the work during the sixth grade gun safety training at their field day on October 13, as well as thanked Paula Peterson and her Freshwater team as they led the annual Walk in Their Shoes presentation/experience for the fourth and eighth grade students. 

• Heard the superintendent’s report that showed a total prek-12 enrollment of 401 students with a K-12 enrollment of 344 students. Sparks said there are currently 57 students in preschool at Henning School, which is the most she ever remembers during her time at the school district. The Henning School District currently offers free preschool for students in its three-year-old and four-year-old program.

• Discussed the potential hiring of a floating basketball coach to add to the girls basketball program this year. The additional coach will provide a fourth paid coach with the goal of continuing to build the participation and fundamentals of the girls basketball program. Sparks said after visiting with the girls basketball head coach and the activities director the hope is to continue to grow the girls basketball program by providing an additional coach to float between the junior high through the varsity program. The position would be on a year-to-year basis and will be re-evaluated next year. 

• Heard the annual costume parade with Henning Elementary students will be held on Friday afternoon at 1:45 p.m. The general public is invited to hand out candy to the teachers for students at the school. The plan is to have the parade in the high school gym and it will once again be open to the public.