GHS tops county with merit exam scores

When students at Goodrich High School return to classes in September, they may find Principal David St. Aubin smiling.
St. Aubin is elated after Goodrich High School juniors topped Genesee County on Michigan Merit Exam (MME) scores in all but social studies, according to data released last week. Grand Blanc High School scored 93.7 in social studies, compared to 93.6 for Goodrich.
The new MME replaces the Michigan Educational Assessment Program tests. The merit exam scores are divided into four performance levels: advanced, proficient, partially proficient, and not proficient. Passing the test are students who scored advanced or at proficient levels. The MME also includes the ACT college entrance exam.
‘The teachers have worked very hard at teaching to the state standards and benchmarks,? said St. Aubin. ‘We don’t have big review sessions for the tests, there’s no special class for the MME. Rather, the teachers have just aligned their curriculum with what is required. Teachers have worked very hard and looked at the standards to see just what the weaknesses are.?
St. Aubin also said the community is behind the school.
‘There’s lots of positives out there for the students,? he said. ‘The climate to learn and the parents? expectations that, ‘you will go to college,? are foremost. Parents say, ‘Yes, you are going to do well, because I’m going to help you,? that’s the climate we are hearing from the community. That’s a strong motivator for students.?
Brandon School District Interim Superintendent Lorrie McMahon said the MME scores should be higher.
Brandon surpassed the state averages in all categories except social studies.
‘My goal is to see our MME and MEAP scores steadily increasing,? said McMahon. ‘We have begun a very intense alignment of our curriculum from Kindergarten through grade 12. The curriculum is being aligned with the Michigan Grade Level Content Expectations, the High School Content Expectations, and the ACT standards. It is important to recognize that all eleventh grade students are taking the ACT part of the MME, something that has never happened before. This means that as well as a well aligned curriculum, we will be offering more support in academic preparation for all students. This is a K-12 process and it takes time, but we will see moderate increases very soon.?