Schools

Huron Valley Students Outpace State Averages on 2012 MEAP Exam

While Huron Valley School's 2012 MEAP scores exceeded state averages, the district saw a 9.2 percent drop in the percentage of students proficient in eighth grade science.

Students at Huron Valley Schools continue to outperform the state in nearly all subjects, according to the recently-released results of the 2012 Michigan Educational Assessment Program, or MEAP test.

During the MEAP exam, taken during fall 2012, public school students in grades 3-9 were tested in math, reading, writing, social studies and/or science depending on the grade level.

Across Michigan, students showed improvement in reading, math and writing in 2012, with the improvement seen in all grades and most demographic groups.

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However in Huron Valley, while there were relatively few changes from last year's scores — with improvement in some areas and dips in proficiency levels in others — eighth grade science scores continue to be the district's weak spot for the second year in a row.

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 percent gain, respectively. Proficiency in math and writing also grew, with a 6.1 percent gain in fifth grade math.

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

"These gains demonstrate (that) Michigan's teachers and students are rising to the challenge of the rigorous standards established last year," said State Superintendent Mike Flanagan in a statement. "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."

Scores across Michigan took a hit in 2011 after the state implemented a new set of cut scores — scores that define the cut-off point for the various levels of proficiency on the MEAP: advanced, proficient, partially proficient and not proficient.

While Huron Valley's proficiency scores did take a nosedive in 2011, the shock wasn't too bad. District administrators said they were anticipating a drop in scores, but were working hard on implementing ways to improve future test scores.

For a school-by-school breakdown of how each school performed on the 2012 MEAP, visit School Data: How Did Huron Valley Students Perform On the MEAP Test?

Huron Valley scores show improvement in math and reading, drop in eighth grade science

For the 2012 MEAP, Huron Valley students showed improvement in many areas. The percentage of students proficient on the seventh grade writing test jumped from 59.4 percent in 2011 to 70 percent in 2012.

In addition, the percentage of students proficient in third grade math jumped from 51.5 percent in 2011 to 61.5 percent in 2012 — a 10 percentage point leap that places Huron Valley far ahead of the state average, 40.9 percent.

Still, the category that took the most dramatic hit in 2012 was the proficiency level in eighth grade science. In 2011, 32.3 percent of Huron Valley eighth-graders scored proficient or higher on the science MEAP exam.

In 2012, that figure dropped to 23.1 percent — still significantly higher than the state average, 15.9 percent.

Fall 2012 MEAP scores

Percentage of all Huron Valley students who met or exceeded state standards, as compared with those same percentages in 2011.

Grade 3


Huron Valley 2012
Huron Valley 2011 Michigan 2012 Math 61.5% 51.5% 40.9% Reading 77.5% 72.7% 66.5%

Grade 4


Huron Valley 2012 Huron Valley 2011 Michigan 2012 Math 60.5% 53.1% 44.9% Reading 75.6% 74.7% 68.1% Writing 59.3% 52.5% 46.7%

Grade 5


Huron Valley 2012 Huron Valley 2011 Michigan 2012 Math 62.4% 54.7% 45.7% Reading 78% 78.4% 70.4% Science 17.3% 17.8% 13.1%

Grade 6


Huron Valley 2012 Huron Valley 2011 Michigan 2012 Math 61.2% 55.7% 40.2% Reading 74.6% 76.9% 68.2% Social Studies 40.6% 28.5% 29.7%

Grade 7


Huron Valley 2012 Huron Valley 2011 Michigan 2012 Math 64.4% 56% 38.4% Reading 75.6% 70.1% 62% Writing 70% 59.4% 51.7%

Grade 8


Huron Valley 2012 Huron Valley 2011 Michigan 2012 Math 54.8% 54.9% 32.5% Reading 74.9% 74.2% 65.7% Science 23.1% 32.3% 15.9%

Grade 9


Huron Valley 2012 Huron Valley 2011 Michigan 2012 Social Studies 45.8% 43% 28.6%

Source: Michigan Department of Education


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