“We use (data) outcomes to determine such things as allocation of resources and teachers, curricular changes and special student programming,” Amoroso said.

And schools are finding that results can come quickly.

Nancy Kluck, principal of St. Peter’s South Elementary Learning Center, said instruction even at the kindergarten level has become “very prescriptive.” Instruction is tailored to each student and curriculum is aligned to the next grade level. The result was this year’s elementary MCA-II scores in St. Peter were as high as any in the region.

Willis Schoeb, superintendent of Maple River Schools, said his district made a concerted effort in the last few years to raise achievement at the middle school levels. On this year’s MCA-II tests, Maple River middle-schoolers were between 10 and 15 percentage points above state averages in most areas.

“We spent a lot of time focusing at the middle school,” Schoeb said. “We’re very happy with the results.”