Troy Schools Scores on 2013 Michigan Merit Exam 'Pretty Consistent'

Year 2 of new cut scores on the 2013 Michigan Merit Exam (MME) offered a new sense of consistency to the Troy School District and others around the state, according to the district's director of curriculum.

Troy scores from the 2013 Michigan Merit Exam (MME) saw little improvement compared to 2012, but the district's 2013 scores, released Monday, continue to outstrip state averages.

"I think it's pretty consistent from last year to this year," Director of Curriculum Anne Mull said. "We're pleased. We want it to be higher, though. We'll continue to work on our curriculum and use this data, along with others, to make smart decisions."

In Troy and across Michigan, students' scores took a hit in 2012 due to new scoring standards adopted by the Michigan Department of Education in September 2011. There was little recovery shown in the 2013 scores.

The new cut scores — which went into effect for the MME and Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) in 2012 — are more rigorous than previous standards: Students now need to get roughly 65 percent of the answers correct to “pass” the state test, instead of the previous benchmark of 39 percent.

Mull said that while Troy may have appeared to have a sharp decline in scores over the past two years, that did not necessarily mean that students were less-proficient.

"I think our parents (of children in the district) are pretty savvy. They understood that's more of a metric difference and they understood that very few of our students require remedial coursework when attending college."

The MME, according to the Michigan Department of Education, assesses students in the eleventh grade based on Michigan high school standards. The test includes the ACT Plus Writing college entrance examination, along with other state proficiency tests.

Student performance falls into one of four categories: advanced, proficient, partially proficient and not proficient. Students must score either "proficient" or "advanced" to be considered proficient in that subject.

Flanagan noted that while the results continue to show a four-year upward trend in student proficiency, the MME student proficiency scores (statewide) declined slightly when compared to 2012.

“Over the past four years, more high school students are being taught challenging content and are becoming career-and college-ready. This upward trend is good news for students, educators and our state," State Superintendent, Mike Flanagan said of the 2013 scores. “While assessment score fluctuations are not unusual when comparing different classes of students, results show the need to continue the state’s strong commitment to high standards."

In Troy, the percentage of students who scored either proficient or advanced on the 2013 MME decreased or stayed the same in nearly every subject. The biggest decrease was in social studies. In 2012, 60 percent of Troy students were proficient or advanced in reading; in 2013, that figure dropped to 56 percent.

The only increase in 2013 MME Scores was in science. In 2012, 45 percent of Troy students tested scored proficient or higher; in 2013 that increased to 48 percent.

The ACT average was higher than the state average of 19.7 and increased from 23.2 to 23.6.

Troy Scores (percent proficient)

Math: 2013 - 60% 2012 - 60%

Science: 2013 - 48% 2012 - 45%

Reading: 2013 - 74% 2012 - 75%

Writing: 2013 - 73% 2012 - 75%

Social Studies: 2013 - 56%  2012 - 60% 

Troy ACT Average

2012: 23.2

2013: 23.6

State Scores 2013 (percent proficient)

Math: 29%

Science: 26%

Reading: 54%

Writing: 49%

Social Studies: 39%

Statewide ACT Average

2013: 19.7

All data provided by the Michigan Department of Education.