Schools

Saline Scores on 2013 Michigan Merit Exam Exceed State Averages

The 2013 scores for the district showed improvement in some areas compared to last year's averages. This is the second year using new scoring standards put in place by the Michigan Department of Education in 2011.

Saline scores from the 2013 Michigan Merit Exam (MME) saw improvement in two subject areas compared to 2012, while the rest of the subjects saw a slight decline or stayed the same. However, the district's 2013 scores, released Monday, continue to outstrip state averages.

The MME, according to the Michigan Department of Education, assesses students in the eleventh grade based on Michigan high school standards. The test includes the ACT college entrance exam, along with other state proficiency tests.

Student performance falls into one of four categories: advanced, proficient, partially proficient and not proficient. Students must score either "proficient" or "advanced" to be considered proficient in that subject.

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In Saline and across Michigan, students' scores took a hit in 2012 due to new scoring standards adopted by the Michigan Department of Education in September 2011. There was improvement shown in the 2013 scores.

The new cut scores — which went into effect for the MME and Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) in 2012 — are more rigorous than previous standards: Students now need to get roughly 65 percent of the answers correct to “pass” the state test, instead of the previous benchmark of 39 percent.

Find out what's happening in Salinewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Flanagan noted that while the results continue to show a four-year upward trend in student proficiency, the MME student proficiency scores (statewide) declined slightly when compared to 2012.

“Over the past four years, more high school students are being taught challenging content and are becoming career-and college-ready. This upward trend is good news for students, educators and our state," State Superintendent, Mike Flanagan said of the 2013 scores. “While assessment score fluctuations are not unusual when comparing different classes of students, results show the need to continue the state’s strong commitment to high standards."

In Saline, the percentage of students who scored either proficient or advanced on the 2013 MME decreased or stayed the same in nearly every subject. Both reading and social studies decreased by only a point.

The percent of Saline students scoring proficient or higher in Match stayed the same at 62 percent in both 2012 and 2013.

Two subjects saw improvement. In 2013 the MME scores for writing improved to 80 percent proficient, compared to 77 percent in 2012. Science increased from 52 percent in 2012 to 56 percent in 2013.

The ACT average decreased slightly from 24.2 in 2012 to 24 in 2013.

Saline Scores (percent proficient)

Math:

  • 2013 - 62%
  • 2012 - 62%

Science:

  • 2013 - 56%
  • 2012 - 52%

Reading:

  • 2013 - 81%
  • 2012 - 82%

Writing:

  • 2013 - 80%
  • 2012 - 77%

Social Studies:

  • 2013 - 71% 
  • 2012 - 72%

Saline ACT Average

2012: 24.2

2013: 24

State Scores 2013 (percent proficient)

Math: 29%

Science: 26%

Reading: 54%

Writing: 49%

Social Studies: 39%

Statewide ACT Average

2013: 19.7

All data provided by the Michigan Department of Education.



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