Schools

Brighton Scores on 2013 Michigan Merit Exam Exceed State Averages

Brighton Area Schools 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.

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 college entrance exam, 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.

Find out what's happening in Brightonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In Brighton Area Schools 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.

Find out what's happening in Brightonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

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 Brighton, 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 decreases were in reading and science. 

Scores also dipped in math, dropping from 52 percent proficient in 2012 to 46 percent proficient in 2013.

The ACT average, while higher than the state average of 19.7, decreased from 22.3 in 2012 to 21.8 in 2013.

Brighton Scores (percent proficient)

Math: 

  • 2013 - 46% 
  • 2012 - 52%

Science: 

  • 2013 - 36% 
  • 2012 -43%

Reading: 

  • 2013 - 68% 
  • 2012 -75%

Writing: 

  • 2013 - 69% 
  • 2012 - 69%

Social Studies: 

  • 2013 - 57%  
  • 2012 - 63% 

Brighton Schools ACT Average

2012: 22.3

2013: 21.8

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.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here