Schools
Macomb Schools' MEAP Results Show Greatest Gains in Math, Struggles in Science
Chippewa Valley, L'Anse Creuse and Utica outpaced statewide MEAP averages in most subjects in 2012. However, New Haven was generally unable to match state averages beyond its results in third grade math and reading.
For the most part, students in Chippewa Valley, L'Anse Creuse and Utica districts continued to perform on par or above their peers across the state in all subject areas, according to the recently-released results of the 2012 Michigan Educational Assessment Program, or MEAP test.
New Haven students struggled to match state averages in all areas except third-grade math and reading.
During the MEAP exam, taken during fall 2012, public school students in grades 3-9 were tested in math, reading, writing, social studies and/or science depending on the grade level.
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Across Michigan, students showed improvement in reading, math and writing in 2012, with the improvement seen in all grades and most demographic groups.
Utica saw its greatest gains in third and fifth-grade math, where the number of proficient students climbed more than 10 percentage points and far outpaced the state average.
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New Haven made significant strides in third-grade math and reading, while Chippewa Valley and L'Anse Creuse were generally able to better their 2011 proficiency by up to 5 percentage points.
However, science scores continued to be weak in all four districts, with all but Utica dropping below the state average in fifth-grade proficiency for this subject area.
New scores demonstrate students, teachers 'rising to the challenge' of new standards
Across Michigan, students made the biggest jump on the 2012 MEAP in reading proficiency for third and eighth graders — with a 4.1 and 5.2 percent gain, respectively. Proficiency in math and writing also grew, with a 6.1 percent gain in fifth-grade math.
Meanwhile, science scores dropped across the state in 2012, particularly in fifth and eighth grade.
"These gains demonstrate (that) Michigan's teachers and students are rising to the challenge of the rigorous standards established last year," said State Superintendent Mike Flanagan in a statement. "I am encouraged by the progress we are making in Michigan and look forward to the continued efforts to help all students achieve at a higher level in all subjects."
Scores across Michigan took a hit in 2011 after the state implemented a new set of cut scores — scores that define the cut-off point for the various levels of proficiency on the MEAP: advanced, proficient, partially proficient and not proficient.
While Chippewa Valley, L'Anse Creuse, New Haven and Utica proficiency scores did drop under the new standards, the decline was minimal.
Subject area strengths vary widely across Macomb districts
Overall, Utica students showed marked improvement in nearly all subject areas on the 2012 MEAP.
Proficiency levels in third-grade math climbed 10 percent, while fifth-grade math saw a 12 percent increase. There were slighy drops in reading and science from fourth to eighth grade, but in no subject did proficiency levels drop more than 3 percent from 2011 to 2012.
Chippewa Valley, however, actually saw its proficiency in third-grade math drop below the state average by 6 percent while New Haven's levels climbed above the state at the same rate.
Fifth-grade science proved troublesome for all four districts, with New Haven posting only 3 percent profiency – 10 percent below the state.
L'Anse Creuse saw its profiency fall in sixth-grade math and social studies, although in both cases, students outpaced their peers by 12 and 8 percent, respectively.
Fall 2012 MEAP results
Percentage of all Utica, Chippewa Valley, L'Anse Creuse and New Haven students who met or exceeded state standards, as compared with those same percentages in 2011.
Grade 3
50, 51.4 29.3, 46 40.9 Reading 67.7, 74.8 67.2, 73.1
69.2, 72 53.7, 74.3 66.5
Grade 4
Utica 2011, 2012CV 2011, 2012 LC 2011, 2012 NH 2011, 2012 State 2012 Math 51.6, 56.9 40.1, 43.9 50.8, 55.2 35.7, 40 44.9 Reading 76.6, 75.1 76.7, 76.5
76.7, 77.3 57.3, 61.1 68.1 Writing 57.7, 57.9 52.6, 53.2
58.2, 61.5 32, 24.4 46.7
Grade 5
Utica 2011, 2012CV 2011, 2012 LC 2011, 2012 NH 2011, 2012 State 2012 Math 47.8, 60.9 41.2, 48
49.6, 54.2 37.3, 30.3 45.7 Reading 75.5, 78 77, 79.6
77, 75.1 66.7, 66.7 70.4 Science 15.3, 15 15.8, 11.3
14.7, 11.2 6.7, 3 13.1
Grade 6
Utica 2011, 2012CV, 2011, 2012 LC 2011, 2012 NH 2011, 2012 State 2012 Math 53.1, 59.3 38.5, 44.2
56.5, 52 37.6, 37.8 40.2 Reading 78.9, 77.8 75.6, 75.6
71.9, 72.6 61, 62.7 68.2 Social Studies 37, 40.3 30.4, 34.3
43, 37.3 18.3, 17.9 29.7
Grade 7
Utica 2011, 2012CV 2011, 2012 LC 2011, 2012 NH 2011, 2012 State 2012 Math 53.5, 54.5 42.1, 44.1
55.5, 52.4 40.4, 34.3 38.4 Reading 67.6, 71.7 65.4, 70.8
69.9, 70.9 54.8, 57.8 62 Writing 60.9, 64 55.3, 62.2
66.5, 65.6 37.5, 44.1 51.7
Grade 8
CV 2011, 2012 LC 2011, 2012 NH 2011, 2012 State 2012 Math 42.8, 44.7 33.7, 34.3
39, 38.4 30.1, 33.7 32.5 Reading 72.2, 72.3 68.7, 73
70.5, 75.6 55.8, 61.1 65.7 Science 21, 18.7 12.5, 11.3
20.6, 24 14.6, 19.6 15.9
Grade 9
Utica 2011, 2012CV 2011, 2012 LC 2011, 2012 NH 2011, 2012 State 2012 Social Studies 38.7, 42.5 31, 32.6
19.8, 23.1 18.7, 7.4 28.6
Source: Michigan Department of Education
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