How well do you know your school district
and the state of education?

The new school year is just around the corner.
Here are 5 questions to test your educational IQ.

By Jake Spitzack | Staff Writer | August 2026

It’s no surprise the learning landscape has changed dramatically in the past few generations with the rise of computers, the internet and artificial intelligence, the broadening of courses and services offered to students, and evolving expectations of colleges and employers. While each graduating class has had things working in their favor and against them, today’s students have been under the spotlight for low national test scores. The dip has been attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic, which according to the National Center for Education Statistics pushed 67% of students to online learning for the 2020-2021 school year. However, other factors are also at play, including widespread social media use and its impact on the emotional well-being of adolescents.

Recently released Long-Term Trend results from the 2025 National Assessment of Educational Progress – often referred to as the nation’s report card – showed average reading test scores of 9-year-olds have bounced back to pre-pandemic levels and math scores are trending up, but 13-year-olds haven’t seen gains in either subject since 2020.

Think you know your school district, what the state of learning is like, and what it’s like being a student today? Put yourself to the test with these five questions.

1. How much of your property taxes are paid to the school district?
A. 5-15%
B. 16-25%
C. 26-35%
D. 36-45%

West Side – Answer: C (33%). The owner of a median priced home ($255,000) pays about $3,700 in annual property taxes combined to the city, Ramsey County, school district and any other special taxing district. The school district receives about $1,250 in this example and about $250 is from voter-approved referendums, bonds and capital-project levies.

West St. Paul – Answer: C (26%). The owner of a median priced home ($312,000) pays about $4,200 in annual property taxes combined to the city, Dakota County, school district and any other special taxing district. The school district receives about $1,100 in this example and about $700 is from voter-approved referendums, bonds and capital-project levies.

Mendota Heights – Answer: D (36%). The owner of a median priced home ($553,000) pays about $5,550 in annual property taxes combined to the city, Dakota County, school district and any other special taxing district. The school district receives about $2,000 in this example and about $1,275 is from voter-approved referendums, bonds and capital-project levies.

South St. Paul – Answer: C (35%). The owner of a median priced home in South St. Paul ($285,000) pays about $3,900 in annual property taxes combined to the city, Dakota county, school district and any other special taxing district. The school district receives about $1,400 in this example and approximately $975 is from voter-approved referendums, bonds and capital project levies. Notably, the district held a special election in May to seek approval for a $50 million building bond referendum that would have added about $139 per year on a median priced home for 20 years, but it was voted down by a margin of 43.34% (yes) to 56.66% (no).

2. Last school year, at least half of district students met or exceeded statewide Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments standards in which of the following subjects?
A. Math
B. Science
C. Reading
D. None

Answers are based on data from the Minnesota Department of Education Report Card. Statewide scores were 45.2% in math, 49.6% in reading and 26.2% in science. The science assessment was updated for 2025 so those numbers can’t be directly compared to previous years.

St. Paul Public Schools – Answer: D (none). 26.5% of students met standards in math, 34.8% in reading and 17.6% in science. The graduation rate at Humboldt High School has trended up since 2021, from 74.8% to 82.4%.

ISD 197 – Answer: C (reading). 43.3% of students met standards in math, 53.4% in reading and 29.4% in science. The graduation rate at Two Rivers High School has risen slightly since 2021, from 87.5% to 89.3%.

Answer: D (none). In South St. Paul, 28.6% of students met standards in math, 39.8% in reading and 19.1% in science; The graduation rate at South St. Paul High School has trended up since 2021, from 84% to 93%.

On a related note, the National Center for Education Statistics reported that in 2024-25, only 14% of 13-year-olds said they read for fun almost every day, a nearly 50% drop from 27% in 2012. Reading is regarded as a building block of education and studies show it helps increase concentration, strengthens critical thinking and memory, and reduces stress.

3. Social media platforms use the same psychological principle that makes which of the following devices so engaging?
A. Video game consoles
B. Slot machines
C. Streaming services
D. Fitness trackers

Answer: B (slot machines). According to a 2025 study by the National Library of Medicine, frequent social media use can alter dopamine pathways and cause dependencies much like substance addictions. This is due to the brain seeking variable rewards – anticipating when the next “like,” comment, notification or interesting post will appear. Furthermore, the study said people ages 16 to 24 spend about three hours per day on social media. In 2024, former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called to require “health warning label” notifications to appear when people log onto social media sites, pointing to research indicating that prolonged social media use can lead to worse mental health outcomes and higher rates of eating disorders and body image issues among children and adolescents. While it didn’t pass on the federal level, the Minnesota legislature voted to enact the measure in the state starting July 1 this year. However, NetChoice, an industry group representing social media apps including TikTok, Facebook and Instagram, is suing the state over the law, contending that it could violate First Amendment speech protections. State officials are now waiting to enforce the law until the lawsuit ends. A similar lawsuit occurred in Colorado late last year and the notifications were not put into effect.
The National Library of Medicine study also found that in 2022 social media platforms had $11 billion of revenue from advertising that targeted U.S. children age 17 and younger.

4. What percentage of U.S. teens have used artificial intelligence chatbots to help with schoolwork?
A. 18%
B. 32%
C. 54%
D. 76%

Answer: C (54%). According to a 2025 Pew Center Research study, the number of teens ages 13-17 who have used ChatGPT for schoolwork has increased from 13% to 54% since 2023, and 59% of teens believe their peers regularly use AI to cheat in school. Additionally, a January 2025 study by the Center for Strategic Corporate Foresight and Sustainability, SBS Swiss Business School, concluded that there is a “significant negative correlation between the frequent use of AI tools and critical thinking abilities.”

St. Paul Public Schools uses several artificial intelligence detection tools that analyze homework, including one called turnitin.com, and the inappropriate use of AI is addressed through the district’s Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook. When a student is suspected of having used AI to cheat on an assignment, the teacher will meet with the student to discuss repercussions and contact their parents. Additional discipline may also occur, such as redoing the assignment or test, or suspension.

ISD 197 similarly bans the inappropriate use of AI and other technology to complete assignments through its Student Discipline policy, putting it on par with plagiarism. Some staff use plagiarism detection software that has been utilized for many years, according to ISD 197 communications director Sara Blair. If a student uses AI to commit academic dishonesty, the consequence depends on the nature of the violation.

South St. Paul Public Schools addresses the inappropriate use of AI through the district’s Academic Honesty and Expectations policy. When a student is suspected of having used AI to cheat on an assignment, the teacher will meet with the student to discuss repercussions and contact their parents. If a student was caught cheating on classwork, homework or quizzes, they must redo the assignment and can earn no more than 75% credit on that assignment. If AI was used to cheat on unit tests or large projects, the student must redo the work for no more than 50% credit. If the student used AI to cheat on finals, or has multiple infractions, it’s likely they will receive no credit for that class.

5. Before the pandemic, about 15% of U.S. students were considered chronically absent (missing at least 10% of the school year, or about 18 days). What percentage in your district are chronically absent, according to latest data?
A. 20%
B. 24%
C. 30%
D. 34%

According to the U.S. Department of Education, the percentage of K-12 students who were chronically absent from school spiked from about 15% before the pandemic to 31% in the 2021-2022 school year. That number was 28% in the 2022-2023 school year and remains well above pre-pandemic levels.

St. Paul Public Schools – Answer: C. 29.9% chronic absence rate in 2024.

ISD 197 – Answer: B. 23.7% absence rate in 2024.

South St. Paul Public Schools – Answer: C. 33.4% chronic absence rate in 2024.

The statewide rate was 24.5% in 2024. In general, students who attend school consistently are more likely to achieve academically, graduate high school, and succeed in college and in their careers, according to the Minnesota Department of Education.

Bonus question: How was the learning experience different when you were in school?
A. We walked to school, uphill both ways
B. No matter what sport we were in, short shorts and high knee socks were standard attire
C. We used typewriters for our term papers… and a half gallon of white-out
D. Our smartboards were made of slate, and we still have chalk dust in our noses from pounding out the erasers

While there is room for growth in today’s classrooms and students are facing uncharted waters with technology and social media, there are also many things to be optimistic about. Some students are opting for “no screen lunches,” joining walkouts in solidarity with other schools nationwide to bring awareness to gun violence, and are forming groups to advocate against vaping and other destructive behavior. Likewise, some sports that once only allowed one gender have been expanded to include both boys’ and girls’ leagues. Also, school districts are implementing personalized individual learning plans to better meet each students’ needs. Even technology and artificial intelligence, while they have drawbacks when not used responsibly or in moderation, are allowing kids to connect with one another and access complex information faster than ever.

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