By Susan Bromley

Staff Writer

Brandon Twp-M-STEP results were released this week and Brandon Superintendent Matt Outlaw is pleased with where the district stands on the statewide standardized test.

On average, students in the district saw increases in proficiency in the four subject areas tested— math, language arts, science and social studies— from their performance the year before, although they were still below state averages in certain subjects at specific grade levels.

“When you look at the state averages, in 2014-2015, there were 12 areas where the Brandon School District was below the state average and in 2015-2016, there are six,” said Outlaw. “We are closing the gap as a district and I am pleased with the progress.”

The district as a whole has improved in language arts, from 45 percent proficient in 2015 to 48.1 percent in 2016; in math, from 35.9 percent proficient last year, to 41.6 percent this year; science scores improved from 22.5 percent proficient across the district in 2015 to 25.5 percent proficient in 2016; and in social studies, the district now stands at 35.5 percent proficient, up from 33.2 percent last year.

The number of third graders in the district proficient in math and language arts was above the state average, but nearly the same as their scores last year, with 52.97 percent proficient in math and 48.92 percent proficient in language arts.

Fourth graders were above state averages in all tested areas and also made large gains over last year’s scores, going from 7.22 percent proficient in science to 15.46

percent; from 38.66 percent language arts proficient to 48.45 percent; and moving up to 48.97 percent proficient in math from 41.53 percent.

While fifth graders are still below state averages in math, language arts and social studies, they showed improvement in all three areas over last year, making gains of more than 11 percent in math and language arts proficiency and more than 4 percent in social studies (see accompanying graph).

Sixth graders jumped almost 12 percent in math proficiency, from 23.76 percent last year to 35.5 percent, and moved to within a half-percentage point of the state’s 45 percent average proficiency in language arts.

The news wasn’t good for seventh graders, with the district below state averages in math, language arts and science, and also falling in every area from last year’s scores, by nearly 3 percent in math and science and a 9 percent drop in language arts.

However, in 8th grade, students showed the strongest mark in all of the district, with 55.61 percent meeting or exceeding the state’s standards for language arts, compared to the state average of 48.8 percent, and beating last year’s score by almost 9 percent. They also vaulted more than 6 percent over last year’s math score, to 36.36 percent, and

went from 27.45 percent proficiency in social studies to 34.22 percent.

Brandon High School juniors remained well above the state average of 43.1 percent proficiency in social studies, while they lost about 2 percent of ground on last year’s score, ending this round at 51.23 percent. In science, they made a more than 5 percent gain however, to 37.3 percent proficient, more than 4 percent better than the state average.

This year, while the second for the M-STEP, was the first year the state also measured SAT scores for juniors, with Brandon 11th graders scoring 991 on average, slightly below the state’s average of 1001. The total number of points possible on the college readiness exam is 1600.

The numbers released by the Michigan Department of Education on Tuesday can seem alarming.

Statewide, on average, students did not test above 50 percent proficient in any area, with the exception of fifth grade language arts, which had 50.6 percent of the state’s students meeting or exceeding standards. There are large disparities between districts, as well, with some of the poorest, including Detroit, seeing students who were less than 5 percent proficient in numerous areas.

In Brandon, nearly 34.88 percent of students districtwide are eligible for free and reduced lunch. Children from economically disadvantaged homes may face numerous challenges to their success.

“The number one disadvantage has to do with literacy— children’s access to books, their access to early childhood education, the amount of communication within the family— that is the big difference,” said Outlaw. “Our investment in early childhood education is addressing that disadvantage.”

Brandon has enrolled 150 students in preschool this year, which Outlaw calls “huge growth.” Two years ago, the preschool program had 104 children enrolled, which increased to 125 last year.

Besides the tuition-based preschool, the district also offers Great Start Readiness and Head Start, both for low-income families.

The district’s goal with regard to M-STEP is to be in the top quartile of all schools in the state, a goal they hope to reach by 2025.

“We are targeting all areas and continue to focus on the fundamentals,” said Outlaw. “Math and language arts are fundamental to everything else we do in the district. We’re not looking for a magic bullet. Working with each and every kid is the path forward. High quality teaching, a team approach to working with kids and high expectations— that is what will make it happen.”