TRAVERSE CITY, MI (July 22, 2010) – 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, and social studies.
TCAPS’ District ACT test results showed a positive year-to-year increase in ACT composite scores and in subject test areas of English, reading, and science. TCAPS students exceeded ACT college readiness benchmarks in English and Reading. TCAPS’ 2010 District average composite ACT score was 21.1 for all eleventh grade students who participated in the MME/ACT (an improvement of .4 from 2009, and up 1.1 points since 2007 when MME/ACT testing for all high school juniors was initiated). The ACT 2010 composite score for juniors throughout Michigan who took the MME was 19.3.
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, and science. TCAPS’ 2010 District results for writing remain thirteen percentage points higher than the State, but showed a slight dip of two percentage points after a two-year gain of seven points from 2007 to 2009. Social studies scores also showed a slight decline from ninety to eighty-eight percent.
“Our schools will continue to implement focused instruction in all subjects that improves learning for every student. While the MME is just one measure of student achievement, teams throughout TCAPS are looking at trends and paying close attention to variations. We are delving into the data for groups of students where scores have remained the same, declined, or leveled off such as in writing and social studies,” remarked Incoming Superintendent Stephen Cousins.
“TCAPS’ scores across the board have continued to improve for significant groups of students such as our general education and economically disadvantaged learners, but our aim is to prepare every student with skills that will be essential for life-long educational success. We are looking at readiness for college and career that goes beyond high school graduation,” emphasized Cousins.
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 thirteen percentage points.
Math scores outpaced State results by fifteen percentage points.
Reading scores were thirteen percentage points higher than the State.
Science scores were fourteen percentage points above the State.
Social Studies scores were nine percentage points above the State.
At TCAPS, 98.6% of eleventh grade students (a total of 788 students) participated in the MME/ACT from across TCAPS’ high schools (an increase from 97% participation in 2009, 94.8% participation in 2008, and 92.5% participation in 2007). “TCAPS’ highly qualified teams of counselors, teachers, and principals deserve recognition 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,” remarked Steve Cousins.
“TCAPS’ high schools are entering the fourth year of a five-year grant to implement ‘smaller learning community’ approaches for improving student achievement. At each high school, our instructional leaders are creating learning environments that bring together teachers and students in specific ways to personalize students’ individual learning experiences and to promote successful transitions into high school and beyond,” remarked Dr. Jayne Mohr, Interim Superintendent. “Advisory programs, teacher teams that work with smaller groups of students in neighborhoods and academies, and student-to-student peer mentoring programs are examples of ways we’re building academic skills and connections for school success,” noted Dr. Mohr. “Additionally, students can pursue accelerated course opportunities 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 to assure every student succeeds.”
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.
“Our school district is proud of our own students’ and the region’s strong results, but there is work to be done to ensure every student has the access, opportunities, and support for continued growth and achievement. This is a community that is committed to high quality education,” noted Cousins. “Today’s MME/ACT results reflect the exceptional teaching and learning that is happening in TCAPS’ classrooms. Furthermore, we are dedicated to ensuring our schools achieve at the highest levels for our region and state to distinguish our students and our school system among college recruiters and parents.”
TCAPS’ District results are charted on TCAPS’ District Web site: www.tcaps.net