TRAVERSE CITY, MI (August 15, 2007) – Today the Michigan Department of Education released statewide results for eleventh grade students who participated in the state’s new Michigan Merit Exam (MME). District results showed TCAPS’ students outperformed the State in the percentage of eleventh grade students who met or exceeded proficiency standards for subject tests including Reading, Math, Writing, Science, Social Studies, and English Language Arts Michigan Merit Exam (MME) tests.

“Our student achievement results show TCAPS’ students continue to reach higher as their results exceeded the State in every subject area test and TCAPS’ results rank higher in comparison to the region as well,” remarked Superintendent Jim Feil. A total of 899 eleventh grade students participated in the MME from across TCAPS’ high schools, and 357 students qualified to earn the up-front award of the Michigan Promise Scholarship as a result of meeting or exceeding state standards in all four of the subject area tests.

In order to meet the new Michigan Promise Scholarship requirements, students were required to take the MME and receive valid scores.  At TCAPS, 92.5% of students who were tested received valid scores and met the requirements for the Michigan Promise Scholarship. To qualify for the up-front installment payments of the Michigan Promise Scholarship, students are required to meet or exceed state standards in reading, writing, mathematics, and science.  They will receive $1,000 during their freshman and sophomore years and earn the remaining $2,000 after successfully completing two years of post-secondary education. Students who did not meet or exceed Michigan standards in all four of those subjects as 11th graders have an opportunity to test again as seniors to qualify for early receipt of scholarship funds, or receive the $4,000 Promise Scholarship after successfully completing two years of a post-secondary education program.

“TCAPS’ many highly qualified staff that include teams of counselors, teachers, and principals should be commended for all their work in preparing and supporting our students who participated in the MME. TCAPS’ goal is 100% proficiency as well as 100% participation for all students. TCAPS will continue to focus resources to ensure all students achieve. We recognize the continuing need to implement focused instruction, such as in reading, writing, and math to ensure sustained student achievement,” emphasized Superintendent Feil.

The Michigan Merit Exam is an entirely new test; it cannot be compared to past scores for the High School MEAP tests. The new MME will continue to be used to monitor schools’ ability to meet state standards for the purposes of calculating Adequate Yearly Progress for every student. A change in state law replaced the High School MEAP test with the Michigan Merit Exam. According to State Superintendent of Public Instruction Mike Flanagan, one of the benefits of the new law is that virtually all students will take a college readiness exam, even those who had never considered going to college.

Additionally, as part of the Michigan Merit Exam, students also completed the ACT Test, a widely recognized college entrance test that assesses high school students' general educational development and their ability to complete college-level work. The ACT has traditionally been a test that only college-bound students have elected to pay to take. Now in Michigan, all eleventh grade students will take the ACT as part of their public education.  TCAPS’ District average composite ACT score for eleventh graders who participated in the MME was 20.0 which exceeded the ACT composite score of 19.0 for juniors throughout Michigan who took the MME this past spring.

“We’re keeping a laser focus on student achievement to ensure every one of our students successfully progresses through a rigorous curriculum in all subject areas with an emphasis on writing across the curriculum and we are dedicated to helping each and every student to develop knowledge and strategies for a lifetime of successful learning,” Superintendent Feil emphasized.

The public will be able to view district results on the Michigan Department of Education Web site: www.michigan.gov.  Additionally, TCAPS’ District results are charted on TCAPS’ District Web site: www.tcaps.net

Contact Person:          Please contact Traverse City Area Public Schools:

Associate Superintendent, Dr. Jayne Mohr at 231-933-1776 or

Superintendent Jim Feil at 231-933-1725 for further information.

Note:                           More information on TCAPS’ eleventh grade ACT results for the MME test will be published in a separate press release on August 15, 2007.