Study: MEAP Scores Expose Improvements and Vulnerable Areas

A week and a half after the 2010 Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) scores were released, Dearborn Public Schools officials presented a clearer picture of where students are improving and where more work is needed, at the Monday night Board of Education Meeting.

The tests are taken in the fall by students in grades three through nine. Third- through eighth-graders are tested in math and reading; third-, fifth- and eighth-graders are tested in science; and sixth- and ninth-graders are tested in social studies.

Fourth- and seventh-graders were also tested in writing.

A full breakdown of Dearborn Public Schools' scores can be found .

Superintendent Brian Whiston said that although students showed generally higher scores in about 75 percent of the study areas, there is still room for improvement.

“I think we can celebrate the gain we have made,” he said. "But we won’t be satisfied until we’re exceeding all expectations.”

Reading and Writing

Reading, which educators said has the most impact on testing because the skill is required for all testing, is the biggest area of concern for the school district.

Student proficiency in both grades four and five went up from 2009 to 2010–by 6 and 7 percent, respectively, but grade three was set back year over year by 6 percent. Student proficiency levels for all three grades fell below the state averages, according to the state's MEAP data.

The news was better for middle school students. The number of students that passed muster in reading increased in 2010 by almost 2 percent for eighth-graders, and remained flat for seventh-graders. The reading scores for sixth- and seventh-graders were slightly below the state average; the eighth-grade scores were commensurate with the state average.

The number of fourth-graders performing at a proficient level in writing increased in 2010, putting that score 6 percent above the state’s average. Scores also increased by 5 percent for middle school writing since 2008.

Math, Science and Social Studies

The best news for the district came in the form of math scores.

Math scores in grades three and five increased by 1 percent and 4 percent, respectively. Dearborn's scores were also several percentage points higher that state averages.

Science proficiency levels for eighth-graders increased by 2 percent, which puts Dearborn’s students 11 percent above the county average but slightly below the state average.

Student scores in science for fifth-graders, however, decreased by 4 percent in 2010 from 2008. The scores are below the state average, but above the Wayne County average.

Proficiency scores for sixth- and ninth-graders in social studies showed an increase of 3 and 2 percent, respectively. The averages are below the state average, but above county averages, according to the district.

Subgroups Show Problems

 Students who fall into several subgroups also take the MEAP, including economically disadvantaged students and English-language learners. There, scores did not live up to the board's expectations.

In 2010, 76 percent of third-graders who are considered economically disadvantaged passed the reading class; 96 percent passed the math test. Seventy-seven percent of fourth- and fifth-graders showed proficiency in reading; 89 percent of fourth-graders passed the math test, along with and 78 percent of fifth-graders. Forty-eight percent of fourth-graders showed proficiency in writing.

English language-learners in the third grade passed the reading test at a clip 77 percent, and the math test at 96 percent. Sixty-three percent of fourth-graders and 51 percent of fifth-graders showed proficiency in reading, while 86 percent of fourth-grades passed the math test, along with 62 percent of fifth-graders. Forty-four percent of fifth-graders also showed proficiency in science.

Assessment Services Director Kathleen Klee acknowledged that the achievement gap for several subgroup students was wider as the grades go higher–a fact that made some board members uncomfortable.

“I’m not that excited to hear that we’re above the county average because we’ve put a lot of resources into these areas, and I’m wondering if we’re getting bang for our buck,” said Board Trustee Mary Petchlikoff.

Whiston said teachers and district staff still have work to do in that arena.

“We’re working hard to bring those numbers up,” he said.