Clawson's 2012 MEAP Results Show Highest Gains in Math

While there is cause for celebration for some of the improvements shown by Clawson students on the math portion of the MEAP exam, the other side of the coin is that there still is work to do in eighth grade math, fourth-grade reading and ninth-grade social studies to stay on pace with peers across the state.

Those are the trends from the 2012 MEAP results released today by the Michigan Department of Education.

The 2012 Michigan Educational Assessment Program measures progress in subjects such as math, reading, writing, science and social studies for third through ninth-graders.

• Find results for each school in our searchable database

Compared to last year's results, Clawson saw improvements in several areas including double-digit increases in the percentage of students who met or exceeded state standards in third and seventh-grade math and seventh-grade writing.

Compared to statewide results, Clawson Public Schools' fourth-graders fared lower than state averages in reading and math. Seventh and eighth-graders also lagged behind in math. And ninth-graders who took the social studies exam peformed worse than their peers across the state. Clawson students outperformed state averages in every other category.

Locally, several districts saw profiency ratings drop in 2011 due to new cut scores from the state. The new scores were based on students getting more of the answers correct than in years past. This year's results are the first apples-to-apples comparison based on those new guidelines.

New scores demonstrate students, teachers 'rising to the challenge' of new standards

Across Michigan, students made the biggest jump on the 2012 MEAP in reading proficiency for third and eighth graders — with a 4.1 and 5.2 percentage points gain, respectively. Proficiency in math and writing also grew, with a 6.1 percentage point gain in fifth grade math.

Meanwhile, science scores dropped across the state in 2012, particularly in fifth and eighth grade.

“These gains demonstrate Michigan’s teachers and students are rising to the challenge of the rigorous standards established last year,”  State Superintendent Mike Flanagan said in a press release. “I am encouraged by the progress we are making in Michigan and look forward to the continued efforts to help all students achieve at a higher level in all subjects.”

Fall 2012 MEAP Results

Editor's Note: The numbers below reflect the percentage of students who have met or exceeded state standards for 2011 and 2012. The 'change' column is the percentage point difference between the two comparative years.

Reading

Here's a look, grade by grade, at the percentage of students proficient in the reading portion of the test.

Grade

2011

Clawson

3

69.9

Michigan

3

62.4

Clawson

4

75.4

Michigan

4

67.7

Clawson

5

78.0

Michigan

5

68.8

Clawson

6

69.2

Michigan

6

67

Clawson

7

56.3

Michigan

7

59.7

Clawson

8

57.5

Michigan

8

60.5

Math

Here's a look, grade by grade, at the percentage of students proficient in the math portion of the test.

Grade

2011

Clawson

3

39.8

Michigan

3

36.3

Clawson

4

41.1

Michigan

4

39.9

Clawson

5

46.5

Michigan

5

39.6

Clawson

6

52.1

Michigan

6

37.1

Clawson

7

26.4

Michigan

7

37.2

Clawson

8

26.1

Michigan

8

29.4

Writing

Here's a look, grade by grade, at the percentage of students proficient in the writing portion of the test.

Grade

2011

Clawson

4

41.5

Michigan

4

44.5

Clawson

7

38.2

Michigan

7

47.3

Science

Here's a look, grade by grade, at the percentage of students proficient in the science portion of the test.

Grade

2011

Clawson

5

18.1

Michigan

5

15.3

Clawson

8

11.2

Michigan

8

16.5

Social studies

Here's a look, grade by grade, at the percentage of students proficient in the social studies portion of the test.

Grade

2011

Clawson

6

27.4

Michigan

6

27.7

Clawson

9

22.1

Michigan

9

28.7