UPDATE: 2010 MEAP Scores Show Little Change For Dearborn Schools

Test scores from the Michigan Educational Assessment Program were released Wednesday, grading students' progress is such subjects as math, reading, writing, science and social studies for third through ninth graders.

For Dearborn Public Schools, the statistics show both areas of progress and decline.

Third-grade science scores showed a 5.6 percent decline in proficiency across the district from 2009 scores, while fifth and eighth grade science scores showed small upticks of .9 and 2.1 percent, respectively.

In math, scores were up across the board from 2009, save for fifth-graders, which showed a district-total decline of 2.2 percent proficiency.

While reading scores were generally stable compared to 2009 numbers, this year's addition of writing comprehension to MEAP testing showed that only 52.8 percent of fourth graders and 53.1 percent of seventh graders are proficient in the subject.

Dearborn Public Schools Supt. Brian Whiston said that the district will take measures to evaluate the scores in the coming weeks.

"As we do every year, the district will examine the overall gains or declines in MEAP scores from one year to the next and use that information as one of many indicators that help us in evaluating instruction and its impact on student learning," Whiston said.

Dearborn's scores came in above the state average in both math and reading, however stayed consistent with the state trend of gains in math and losses in reading proficiency.

Also, Whiston noted that a county-wide comparison of Dearborn's scores is encouraging, too.

"Looking at how the district’s elementary scores compared to the county, our scores exceeded county averages in all areas for all grades," Whiston said. "District elementary math scores were higher than state averages. Other subject areas were comparable or slightly lower than the state average."

Whiston also noted that MEAP scores are just one of many ways the district evaluates its students' progress.

"The MEAP is just one score on one day but it does give us a chance to look at one of many measures used by school districts to evaluate student learning and the methods used to deliver instruction," he said. "I want to thank our teachers and administrators for all their hard work to improve instruction and provide quality learning opportunities for each student in our classrooms."

Here's a look at Dearborn's district-wide scores showing the percentage of proficiency for all tests in all grades.

2010 MEAP scores

2009 MEAP scores

A full, in-depth presentation evaluating the MEAP scores will be made by the Dearborn Public Schools Office of Assessment at the April 11 Board of Education meeting, held at the Administrative Service Center on Audette.