TRAVERSE CITY, MI (July 14, 2009) – 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 Traverse City Area Public Schools’ students outperformed the State in the percentage of eleventh grade students who met or exceeded proficiency standards for all 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 showed a positive year-to-year increase in ACT composite scores and the percentage of students meeting college readiness benchmarks in all ACT subject test areas. TCAPS’ District average composite ACT score was 20.7 for all eleventh grade students who participated in the MME/ACT (an improvement of .5 from last year, and up .7 since 2007 when MME/ACT testing for all high school juniors was initiated). The ACT 2009 composite score for juniors throughout Michigan who took the MME was 19.0 (up slightly from the 2008 Michigan’s average composite of 18.8).
Michigan Merit Exam results for TCAPS’ 11th grade students showed an increase in the percentage of students who scored at the proficient or advanced levels in the subjects of Math, Reading, Writing, and English Language Arts. TCAPS’ 2009 District results for Writing showed an increase of five percent when compared to 2008. Student scores for Social Studies and Science stayed the same when compared to the results from Spring 2008.
The percent of TCAPS’ students meeting or exceeding standards are noted on the attached graphs and are as follows:
Writing scores exceeded the State by sixteen percent.
Math scores outpaced State results by fourteen percent.
Reading scores were fifteen percent higher than the State.
English Language Arts scores exceeded the State by fifteen percent.
Science scores were nine percentage points above the State.
Social Studies scores were eleven percent above the State.
“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. We are pleased to see gains in subject areas such as writing, reading, and math that have been a focus for improvement,” remarked Superintendent James Feil.
At TCAPS, 97% of eleventh grade students (a total of 853 students) participated in the MME/ACT from across TCAPS’ high schools, an increase from 92.5 % participation in 2007 and 94.8% participation in 2008.
“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.
“TCAPS’ high schools are entering the third 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,” remarked Dr. Jayne Mohr, Associate Superintendent. “Peer mentoring programs are helping students in building academic skills and connections for school success. A Freshman Academy will continue this fall. Accelerated course opportunities will be available for students in 9th and 10th grade, which allow students to move into the next level during the school year. 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 replaced the High School MEAP test. According to State Superintendent of Public Instruction Mike Flanagan, one of the benefits of the MME/ACT Test 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. Completing the MME makes a student eligible for the $4,000 Michigan Promise scholarship, administered by the Michigan Department of Treasury. (However, the future of the Michigan Promise scholarship has recently become less certain as proposals in the Legislature are calling for its discontinuation as a State budget cut.)
“Our school district is proud of our own students’ and the region’s strong results which also reflect year-to-year improvements. We are fortunate to live in a community that is committed 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.”
See TCAPS' student acheivment page for graphical information.
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.