Huron Valley Scores on 2013 Michigan Merit Exam Exceed State Averages

Huron Valley scores from the 2013 Michigan Merit Exam (MME) saw little improvement compared to 2012, but the district's 2013 scores, released Monday, continue to outstrip state averages.

The MME, according to the Michigan Department of Education, assesses students in the eleventh grade based on Michigan high school standards. The test includes the ACT college entrance exam, 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.

In Huron Valley and across Michigan, students' scores took a hit in 2012 due to new scoring standards adopted by the Michigan Department of Education in September 2011. There was little recovery shown in the 2013 scores.

The new cut scores — which went into effect for the MME and Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) in 2012 — 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.

Flanagan noted that while the results continue to show a four-year upward trend in student proficiency, the MME student proficiency scores (statewide) declined slightly when compared to 2012.

“Over the past four years, more high school students are being taught challenging content and are becoming career-and college-ready. This upward trend is good news for students, educators and our state," State Superintendent, Mike Flanagan said of the 2013 scores. “While assessment score fluctuations are not unusual when comparing different classes of students, results show the need to continue the state’s strong commitment to high standards."

In Huron Valley, the percentage of students who scored either proficient or advanced on the 2013 MME decreased or stayed the same in nearly every subject. The biggest decrease was in reading. In 2012, 64 percent of Huron Valley students were proficient or advanced in reading; in 2013, that figure dropped to 61 percent.

Scores also dipped by a point in social studies, dropping from 48 percent proficient in 2012 to 47 percent proficient in 2013.

The only increase in 2013 MME Scores was in math. In 2012, 32 percent of Huron Valley Student tested scored proficient or higher; in 2013 that increased by one percent to 33 percent.

The ACT average, while higher than the state average of 19.7, stayed the same as 2012 at 20.6

Huron Valley Scores (percent proficient)

Math:

• 2013 - 33%
  
• 2012 - 32%
  

Science:

• 2013 - 34%
  
• 2012 -34%

Reading:

• 2013 - 61%
  
• 2012 -64%

Writing:

• 2013 - 60%
  
• 2012 - 60%

Social Studies:

• 2013 - 47% 
  
• 2012 - 48%
  

Huron Valley ACT Average

2012: 20.6

2013: 20.6

State Scores 2013 (percent proficient)

Math:

• 29%
  

Science:

• 26%
  

Reading:

• 54%
  

Writing:

• 49%
  

Social Studies:

• 39%
  

Statewide ACT Average

2013: 19.7

All data provided by the Michigan Department of Education.