FeedsHigh schools receive scores
Michigan Merit test scores for all state high schools were released last week, and officials at Inkster Public Schools are vowing to appeal several of them.
The scores analyze the proficiency of public school 11th graders in the subjects of reading, writing, English language arts, social studies and science. In Inkster, officials are pondering the fact that Inkster High students performed well on the more-challenging ACT college entrance exam than on the traditional state exams.
“It doesn’t seem to make any sense, but we’re looking into the scores,” said Tom Maridada, the superintendent of Inkster Public Schools.
“We know that the ACT is a more difficult test,” he added.
There was one other aspect of the score that stood out to officials at the district – the number of students who are “partially proficient,” or who narrowly missed proficiency by just one or two questions.
“The (state) scores don’t seem to be a good picture of how intelligent students are,” Maridada said.
According to results released by the state, Inkster the following number of students either met or exceeded state requirements:
Reading: 38 of 143 students were proficient, with another 67 partially proficient;
Writing: 33 of 143 students were proficient, with another 102 partially proficient;
English-language arts: 35 out of 143 students were proficient, with another 93 partially proficient;
Social studies: 84 students were proficient, with another 42 partially proficient; and
Science: 24 of 143 students were proficient, with another 35 partially proficient.
On the other side of the equation, the following percentage of students did not reach proficiency standards:
Reading: 102 students failed to meet requirements;
Writing: eight students failed to meet requirements;
English-language arts: 15 students failed to meet requirements;
Social studies: 84 failed to meet requirements; and
Science: 84 students failed to meet requirements.
Inkster Schools will likely appeal the scores, Maridada said.
“Because of the closeness of the scores, and the number of students who did not make proficiency, we’re going to appeal,” he said. “But we do so every year.”
Statewide, the results met with a lukewarm response by most districts. Compared to the results from spring 2007, the percentage of Michigan public school 11th graders who scored at the proficient or advanced levels improved slightly in the percentage of students scoring proficient or advanced in math.
There was a slight decline in the students who scored proficient or advanced in social studies.
“We are seeing the benefits of a renewed emphasis on high school achievement,” said State Board of Education President
Kathleen N. Straus. “Schools, parents, and students are becoming more aware that high school achievement is the launch pad to post-secondary success and greater opportunity for a high-paying career.”
For each subject area, the percentages of 11th grade students achieving proficient or advanced performance levels compared to 11th graders from the previous year were as follows: Reading was measured at 62 percent, up from 60 percent in 2007; writing was measured at 41 percent, up from 40 percent; English-language arts came in at 52 percent, up from 51 percent; mathematics held on at 46 percent in both years; science inched up to 57 percent, up from 56 percent and social studies was down to 80 percent, down from 83 percent last year.
On average, Michigan students who took the ACT as part of this state test had the same composite score as last year on this test –18.8 points.
There is quite a bit at stake for students who did not make proficiency.
To qualify for the $4,000 scholarship, students must take the complete Michigan Merit Exam (MME) and receive scores in reading, writing, mathematics, and science. To qualify for up-front installment payments from the Department of Treasury, students must achieve the proficient or advanced level in those same subjects.
Students will receive $1,000 during their freshman and sophomore years of college, and then receive the remaining $2,000 after successfully completing two years of college.
High school juniors were tested this past spring on the MME and ACT.
