Michigan Merit Exam: Rochester, Lake Orion and Romeo Students Score Above State Average

The Michigan Department of Education released scores from the 2011 Michigan Merit Exam this morning, and the results are mixed for the three school districts serving Oakland Township.

Eleventh-grade students from all three districts – , Lake Orion and Romeo community schools – scored higher in every category than the state average scores, which rose in three subject areas (writing, mathematics and science).

The MME is a collection of tests given each spring to Michigan 11th grade students during a three-day period that includes state-developed tests in math, science and social studies, the ACT college entrance exam and ACT WorkKeys test.

Students from Rochester Community Schools scored highest, despite a slight drop in scores compared to last year. Scores slipped in reading, writing, math and science while social studies scores improved.

Lake Orion Community Schools students' scores improved in writing, math and science. Scores dropped in reading and social studies.

Students from Romeo Community Schools improved in reading, writing and science while scores dropped in math and social studies.

ACT average scores rose for all three districts while the state average score stayed at 19.3. Students in Rochester Community Schools scored an average of 22.8 on the ACT in 2011 while students in Lake Orion Community Schools averaged 21.7. Students in Romeo Community Schools averaged 20.4 on the ACT in 2011.

“Students are being challenged with greater rigor and are achieving at higher levels,” state Superintendent of Public Instruction Mike Flanagan said in a recent press release from the Michigan Department of Education. “Michigan educators are to be commended for the efforts they put in to help more students learn and succeed.”

“Michigan’s future in large part will depend upon the readiness of our students to enter a career or college with the educational foundation needed to succeed and have a strong quality of life,” Gov. Rick Snyder said in the press release. “Our steady progress is promising, but we can and must do better. I am confident that with our rigorous high school requirements, high quality teachers and the enactment and implementation of key education reforms, this positive trend will continue.”

Here are the Michigan Merit Exam scores for 2010 and 2011 for the state and Rochester, Lake Orion and Romeo community schools:

(Source: Michigan Department of Education)