TRAVERSE CITY, MI (August 7, 2008) – Today the Michigan Department of Education released statewide results for eleventh grade students who participated in the state’s 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. In addition, TCAPS’ District ACT test results exceeded state scores across all subject areas and ACT average composite scores.
The percentage of TCAPS’ 11th grade students who scored at the proficient or advanced levels improved in the subjects of math, science, reading, and writing, and stayed the same for English Language Arts, and social studies when compared to the results from spring 2007. TCAPS’ 2008 District results for math and science showed an increase of five percent and were fourteen percent higher than the state average results for math and science.
“TCAPS’ student achievement increases are encouraging and reflect a shared commitment among TCAPS’ students, teachers, and schools to continue to reach higher. Our student results exceeded the State in every subject area test and we are seeing gains in areas that have been a focus for improvement such as math, reading, and writing,” remarked Superintendent James Feil.
At TCAPS, 94.8% of eleventh grade students (a total of 828 students) participated in the MME from across TCAPS’ high schools, an increase from 92.5 % participation in 2007. “TCAPS’ many highly qualified teams of counselors, teachers, and principals should be commended for all their work in preparing and supporting our students who participated in the MME and ACT tests. TCAPS’ goal is 100% proficiency as well as 100% participation for all students. TCAPS will continue to focus resources to ensure every student achieves. Our schools continue to take on the challenge with direct efforts to implement focused instruction, such as in reading, writing, and math to ensure sustained student achievement,” emphasized Superintendent Feil.
Dr. Jayne Mohr, Associate Superintendent, remarked, “TCAPS’ high schools are entering the second year of a five-year grant to implement ‘smaller learning community’ approaches for improving student achievement. School teams are noting promising results with regard to their focused work in helping 9th and 10th grade students to experience successful transitions into high school. Peer mentoring programs are helping students in building academic skills and connections for school success. A Freshman Academy will open this fall. Online courses and courses that blend online instruction with classroom learning are also expanding. Most of all, teachers are teaming together to focus on instruction for helping every student to achieve success,” remarked Jayne Mohr.
The Michigan Merit Exam is now in its second year, and due to change in state law, the MME has replaced the High School MEAP test. 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. The Michigan Merit Exam (MME) includes a national ACT college entrance test. The ACT Test is 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 take the ACT as part of their public education.
TCAPS’ District average composite ACT score for eleventh grade students who participated in the MME was 20.2 (up slightly from 20.0 in 2007). TCAPS’ District average composite ACT scores for all juniors continue to exceed the ACT composite score of 18.8 for juniors throughout Michigan who took the MME this past spring (a slight decline from 19.0 in 2007 for the state average composite). While TCAPS’ MME results for English Language Arts results stayed the same, ACT Test scores for English, Writing, and Reading areas showed slight increases.
“Our school district is also proud of our own students’ and the region’s strong results which reflect a community-wide commitment to high quality education,” noted Feil. “We at TCAPS are supportive of efforts throughout our region for providing high quality instruction to improve student achievement. Today’s MME results reflect the exceptional teaching and learning that is happening in TCAPS’ classrooms and that contributes to the success and academic achievement of our students. Furthermore, we are dedicated to ensuring our schools achieve at the highest levels for our region and the state as this helps to distinguish our students and our school system among college recruiters and parents.”
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.