Clawson's MME Scores Decrease; ACT Average Remains Steady

Michigan Merit Exam scores for most subjects plummeted this year in the Clawson School District under , according to a report released by the Michigan Department of Education this morning.

Clawson High School 11th graders scored significantly lower in math, science and social studies. There was a smaller drop in the percentage of students proficient or advanced in reading and a 1 percent increase in writing.

The MME, according to the Michigan Department of Education, assesses students in the 11th grade based on Michigan high school standards. The test includes the ACT Plus Writing college entrance examination, along with other state proficiency tests.

Student performance falls into one of four categories: advanced, proficient, partially proficient and not proficient. Students must score either "proficient" or "advanced" to be considered proficient in that subject.

The new cut scores — which went into effect for the MME and Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) this year — are more rigorous than previous standards: Students now need to get roughly 65 percent of the answers correct to “pass” the state test, instead of the previous benchmark of 39 percent.

According to State Superintendent of Public Instruction Mike Flanagan, the previous standard was based on the very basic knowledge that students needed in an industrial manufacturing economy — where students could get a high school diploma and get a good-paying job at a factory.

Those opportunities are mostly gone now, he said, with students needing at least a two-year community college education to compete in the technology-driven, knowledge-based economy of the 21st century.

However, based on adjusted cut scores, Flanagan said in a press release Thursday that the 2012 state averages show one-year gains in several subjects, especially reading and writing.

"The impact of having students engage in the rigorous Michigan Merit Curriculum is evident here,” said Flanagan. “When students have the benefit of learning higher-level subject material, more will become career- and college-ready and prepared for success."

Students also took the ACT test and those scores remained steady with a 0.5 percent drop.

Reading

Writing

Math

Science

Social Studies

ACT Averages