According to the Michigan Department of Education, the latest Michigan Merit Exams shows that Social Studies saw a decline in test scores, with 79% scoring proficient or advanced compared to 81% the previous year and 83% in 2007.
According to the MDE, “The rigorous state high school graduation requirements signed into state law four years ago are paying off with higher test scores.” Michigan high school students are continuing to improve their performance on the Michigan Merit Examination (MME), which includes the ACT college entrance test. The percentage of students scoring in the proficient or advanced categories was at its highest level ever in four subject areas: math, science, reading, and writing.
Likewise, the more than 110,000 students taking the MME this spring scored an average 19.3 on the ACT portion of the test, marking the third consecutive year with an increase (up from 19.0 in 2009 and 18.8 in 2008).
“Four years ago we created a college prep curriculum for high school students with the goal of doubling the number of college graduates in Michigan,” said Governor Jennifer M. Granholm. ”We must have a well-educated workforce if Michigan is to compete globally and attract jobs and investment here. These test scores show student performance is improving which is the best proof that the more rigorous curriculum is working.”
Recommended to the Legislature by the State Board of Education, the state high school graduation requirements include four credits each of math and English language arts; three credits each of science and social studies; two credits of world language; one credit each of health/physical education and visual/performing arts; and one online course.
The high school juniors who took the Michigan Merit Exam this past spring are the first students required by law to complete the new high school requirements in order to graduate. The two-credit world language requirement first takes effect for the graduating class of 2016.
While acknowledging that scoring at a “proficient” level equates to having only a basic understanding of the subject content, state Superintendent of Public Instruction Mike Flanagan is encouraged by the early results of the new high school graduation requirements.
“We were confident that when all students were taught the rigorous subject content, like Algebra II and chemistry, they would be able to learn the basic concepts, if not more,” said Flanagan, the original architect of the state’s rigorous graduation requirements. “This is a very positive trend and shows hope for the future.”
Flanagan added that younger students will benefit even more as Michigan continues to ratchet-up its college- and career-ready standards.
For more on the MME results, click here.