Ferndale students showed mostly gains in the 2012 MEAP results released today by the Michigan Department of Education.
The 2012 Michigan Educational Assessment Program measures progress in subjects such as math, reading, writing, science and social studies for third through ninth-graders.
Compared to last year's results, Ferndale saw improvements in several areas including double-digit increases in the percentage of students who met or exceeded state standards in third and fourth grade reading and fourth and seventh grade math and writing.
The only areas of decline were seen in fifth grade reading and science and sixth grade social studies results.
Compared to statewide results, Ferndale students scored lower than state averages in areas such as science and fifth through eighth grade reading. Ferndale students outperformed state averages in areas including third and fourth grade reading and third and sixth grade math.
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Last year, Ferndale students showed an increase from 2010 scores in areas such as fourth and sixth grade reading, and declines in areas including fourth grade math and fifth grade science. More on the 2011 results here.
Locally, several districts saw profiency ratings drop in 2011 due to new cut scores from the state. The new scores were based on students getting more of the answers correct than in years past. This year's results are the first apples-to-apples comparison based on those new guidelines.
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 Michigan’s teachers and students are rising to the challenge of the rigorous standards established last year,” State Superintendent Mike Flanagan said in a press release. “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.”
Fall 2012 MEAP Results
Editor's Note: The numbers below reflect the percentage of students who have met or exceeded state standards for 2011 and 2012. The 'change' column is the percentage point difference between the two comparative years.
Reading
Here's a look, grade by grade, at the percentage of students proficient in the reading portion of the test.
Grade
20122011
ChangeFerndale
3
7355.6
+17.4Michigan
3
66.562.4
+4.1Ferndale
4
76.960.8
+16.1Michigan
4
68.167.7
+0.4Ferndale
5
60.163
-2.9Michigan
5
70.468.8
+1.6Ferndale
6
66.766
+0.7Michigan
6
68.267
+1.2Ferndale
7
51.642.1
+9.5Michigan
7
6259.7
+2.3Ferndale
8
57.956.6
+1.3Michigan
8
65.760.5
+5.2Math
Here's a look, grade by grade, at the percentage of students proficient in the math portion of the test.
Grade
20122011
ChangeFerndale
3
44.635.6
+9Michigan
3
40.936.3
+4.6Ferndale
4
42.929.6
+13.3Michigan
4
44.939.9
+5Ferndale
5
38.538.1
+0.4Michigan
5
45.739.6
+6.1Ferndale
6
45.540.3
+5.2Michigan
6
40.237.1
+3.1Ferndale
7
35.620.5
+15.1Michigan
7
38.437.2
+1.2Ferndale
8
22.919.4
+3.5Michigan
8
32.529.4
+3.1Writing
Here's a look, grade by grade, at the percentage of students proficient in the writing portion of the test.
Grade
20122011
ChangeFerndale
4
55.142.5
+12.6Michigan
4
46.744.5
+2.2Ferndale
7
42.630.5
+12.1Michigan
7
51.747.3
+4.4Science
Here's a look, grade by grade, at the percentage of students proficient in the science portion of the test.
Grade
20122011
ChangeFerndale
5
4.39.6
-5.3Michigan
5
13.115.3
-2.2Ferndale
8
6.86.1
+0.7Michigan
8
15.916.5
-0.6Social studies
Here's a look, grade by grade, at the percentage of students proficient in the social studies portion of the test.
Grade
20122011
ChangeFerndale
6
1622.3
-6.3Michigan
6
29.727.7
+2Ferndale
9
12.711.8
+0.9Michigan
9
28.628.7
-0.1
I'm so pleased to see Ferndale engaging in a strategic planning process and urge everyone in the community to get involved, regardless of whether or not you have school-aged children. I urge the board and planning committee to take a good hard look at the reasons why our two schools are performing at opposite ends of the spectrum. If some pretty significant changes are not made to the schools, Ferndale will continue to lose families to communities with a better track record.