Plymouth-Canton Students' ACT, MME Scores Outperform State Averages Again

Plymouth-Canton students' scores from the 2013 Michigan Merit Exam (MME) declined in almost every subject 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 11th 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.

In Plymouth-Canton 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. 

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.

State Superintendent Mike 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," 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 Plymouth-Canton, 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 math. In 2012, 57 percent of Plymouth-Canton students were proficient or advanced in math; in 2013, that figure dropped to 49 percent.

Scores also dipped by six points in science and reading.

Writing was the only 2013 MME score that remained the same compared to 2012 with 67 percent of students testing proficient.

The ACT average, while higher than the state average of 19.7, declined by .03 percent from last year to 22.

Plymouth-Canton Scores (percent proficient)

Math: 

• 2013 - 49% 
  
• 2012 - 57%
  

Science: 

• 2013 - 39% 
  
• 2012 -45%

Reading: 

• 2013 - 67% 
  
• 2012 -73%

Writing: 

• 2013 - 67% 
  
• 2012 - 67%

Social Studies: 

• 2013 - 60%  
  
• 2012 - 65% 
  

Plymouth-Canton ACT Average

2013: 22

2012: 22.3

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.