Parents and school officials around Clarkston got some good news’and some not-so-good’when Michigan Merit Exam results were released last month.
The good news: Clarkston High School juniors placed above state average on the Spring 2008 MME.
In some cases, scores were significantly higher; 18 percent of Clarkston High School juniors, for example, achieved ‘advanced? level scores in mathematics while the state average was 10 percent. Another 47 percent at CHS were rated ‘proficient? in math, while across the state, 36 percent scored at the proficiency level; 13 percent were ‘somewhat proficient.
The not-so-good news: 22 percent of CHS 11th graders’this year’s seniors’were ‘not proficient? in math, and several MME scores were down from 2007.
In spring 2007, the MME replaced the Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) at the high school level. The MME, now used as the state high school assessment test, is administered to juniors, as well as some seniors, each year in March. The MEAP is still used to assess students in grades 3-9.
Good or bad, said David R, Reschke, deputy superintendent, the scores are a learning tool for the district.
‘In general terms, the district sees the Michigan Merit Exam as a chance for students to display a wide range of knowledge and skills and in that regard the test can be helpful,? he said.
Part of the test, he explained, is based on the ACT, a standardized achievement test for college-bound students.
‘Only part of the students in the state used to take the ACT and now all students are taking it,? he said. ‘The scores are going to be lower in general than they would have been in the past so because a wider range of students are taking the test.?
In addition to the ACT Plus Writing college entrance exam, the MME is comprised of several components developed to assess Michigan high school content standards.
The test also includes portions of the WorkKeys work skills assessment, a measure used to gauge a student’s reading and math skills in a work-readiness capacity.
While individual student scores are protected by federal right to privacy laws, summary information is publicly available for every district and individual school administering the MME.
Information includes assessments in student reading, writing, mathematics, science and social studies. Reading and writing scores are also combined to produce an overall English language arts score.
‘We need to look at that data in terms of ‘which kids are still doing as we would expect?? and ‘which kids do we need to work with to help them understand how to take those kinds of tests and prepare for those kinds of tests and take those kinds of tests??? Reschke said. ‘So we’re seeing it as a new chance to analyze our students? academic and test taking skills.?
While all the scores at Clarkston High School were above state level, students at Renaissance, the district’s alternative high school, generally performed far below their statewide peers.
In reading, 53 percent of students who took the MME were deemed not proficient; 54 percent were not proficient in writing; 81 percent not proficient in math; 70 percent in science and 27 percent in social studies.
And, with the exception of social studies at 5 percent, no students at Renaissance scored ‘advanced? in any area.
But, said Reschke, those numbers could be deceiving
‘Generally one would guess when students go to an alternative high school but are measured on a test that’s not for an alternative high school, they’re not going to not have a match,? he said. ‘There are other tests we’re going to look at and other measures of success we need to look at.?
The MME, he said, will still be used as a tool to examine individual student responses relative to preparing students for graduation requirements.

*Level 1: Advanced ; Level 2: Proficient; Level 3: Partially Proficient; Level 4: Not Proficient
**ELA: English Language Arts

Clarkston High School:
(Please use the following format to understand data listed for schools. The first number refers to the number of students tested; following percentages refer to populations of students who tested at level 4; level 3; level 2; and level 1, respectively)

MME READING
Students tested: 593
Level 4: 11%; Level 3: 13%; Level 2: 72%; Level 1: 4%

MME WRITING
Students tested: 563
Level 4: 3%; level 3: 37%; Level 2: 56%; Level 1: 4%

MME TOTAL ELA
Students tested: 562
Level 4: 4%; Level 3: 23%; Level 2: 69%; Level 1: 4%

MME MATHEMATICS
Students tested: 591
Level 4: 22%; Level 3: 13%; Level 2: 47%: Level 1: 18%

MME SCIENCE
Students tested: 574
14% 13% 63% 10%

MME SOCIAL STUDIES
Students tested: 567
Level 4: 3%; Level 3: 5%; Level 2: 33%; Level 1: 59%

Renaissance High
MME READING
34
53% 29% 18% 0%

MME WRITING
35
54% 40% 6% 0%

MME TOTAL ELA
33
52% 42% 6% 0%

MME MATHEMATICS
31
81% 16% 3% 0%

MME SCIENCE
33
70% 18% 12% 0%

MME SOCIAL STUDIES
37
27% 49% 19% 5%

Lake Orion High School:
MME READING
558
10% 17% 70% 3%

MME WRITING
558
5% 42% 50% 3%
MME TOTAL ELA
556
7% 28% 63% 2%

MME MATHEMATICS
558
25% 17% 43% 15%

MME SCIENCE
559
14% 12% 62% 12%

MME SOCIAL STUDIES
559
3% 6% 34% 57%

NOTRE DAME PREPARATORY SCHOOL (Private)
MME READING
194
2% 4% 84% 11%

MME WRITING
194
0% 8% 74% 19%

MME TOTAL ELA
194
0% 5% 80% 15%

MME MATHEMATICS
194
5% 10% 61% 24%

MME SCIENCE
194
2% 7% 70% 21%

MME SOCIAL STUDIES
194
0% 1% 28% 71%

Pontiac Northern High School:
MME READING
250
43% 29% 28% 0%

MME WRITING
246
24% 66% 11% 0%

MME TOTAL ELA
245
33% 49% 18% 0%
MME MATHEMATICS
247
84% 10% 6% 0%

MME SCIENCE
246
67% 21% 12% 0%

MME SOCIAL STUDIES
252
24% 35% 38% 4%

Brandon High School
MME READING
297
12% 23% 61% 4%

MME WRITING
297
7% 48% 43% 3%

MME TOTAL ELA
297
10% 33% 55% 2%

MME MATHEMATICS
296
32% 16% 46% 6%

MME SCIENCE
297
20% 18% 56% 7%

MME SOCIAL STUDIES
297
5% 14% 40% 40%

Waterford Kettering High School:
MME READING
276
13% 17% 70% 1%

MME WRITING
276
6% 46% 46% 1%

MME TOTAL ELA
276
8% 30% 60% 1%

MME MATHEMATICS
275
34% 19% 37% 10%

MME SCIENCE
276
18% 17% 59% 6%
MME SOCIAL STUDIES
278
2% 8% 43% 48%

Holly High School:
MME READING
314
16% 19% 63% 2%

MME WRITING
314
11% 42% 45% 3%

MME TOTAL ELA
314
11% 30% 57% 3%

MME MATHEMATICS
313
33% 19% 38% 11%

MME SCIENCE
314
21% 16% 56% 6%

MME SOCIAL STUDIES
314
3% 11% 39% 48%

STATEWIDE RESULTS:
READING
113,642
17% 21% 59% 3%

WRITING
112,954
11% 48% 39% 3%

TOTAL ELA
112,506
13% 35% 50% 2%

MME MATHEMATICS
113,234
38% 16% 36% 10%

SCIENCE
113,180
27% 17% 50% 6%

SOCIAL STUDIES
114,125
7% 13% 39% 41%