Michigan Education Assessment Program (MEAP) test scores from fall 2006 were released by the state Department of Education last week and the results for Oxford were mixed.
For the most part, Oxford’s scores on the MEAP test (shown on page 19) were above the county and state average.
‘It’s a good place to be,? said Jim Schwarz, curriculum director for Oxford Schools. ‘But, obviously, we have room for growth.?
Proficiency in subjects such as reading, math and fifth-grade science increased from the 2005 scores, while writing scores fell in the fourth, fifth and seventh grades.
Fourth-grade writing scores accounted for the biggest drop with only 47.1 percent meeting or exceeding state standards. That represents a 15.3 percent decrease over 2005 scores.
Fifth-grade writing experienced a 3.9 percent decline with 63.9 percent meeting or exceeding state standards. Seventh-grade writing dropped 2.4 percent with 63.6 percent of students meeting or exceeding standards.
Schwarz said he believes the two-year trend of a drop in writing scores has to do with the way that portion of the test is scored and the interest level the students have in the subject they’re asked to write about. ?(The score) is based on content, flow of thought and ideas,? he said. ‘It’s subjectively scored.?
Writing will be the key subject for teachers to focus on next year, according to Schwarz. ‘Our professional development days next year will be dedicated to (writing),? he said.
Science and social studies scores fell at the middle and high school levels. In the eighth grade, the number of students who met or exceeded state science standards dropped to 81.7 percent ? a 5.2 percent decline.
Although 82.1 percent of those tested met or exceeded standards on the social studies test, this did represent a 3.7 percent decrease since 2005.
Schwarz said the lower scores in science and social studies don’t necessarily reflect on the teacher’s instruction, but could be the result of varying levels of knowledge and skills among the students.

Oxford’s Fall 2006 MEAP scores
These results for the Fall 2006 MEAP for Oxford Schools combine the Level 1 and 2 scores. The percentages equal the number of students who exceeded or met Michigan standards:

Third grade:
? 94.4 percent in reading.
? 94.5 percent in math.
? 60 percent in writing.
Fourth grade:
? 91.4 percent in reading.
? 89.3 percent in math.
? 47.1 percent in writing (down 15.3 percent)
Fifth grade:
? 92.4 percent in reading (down .4 percent)
? 85.1 percent in math.
? 63.9 percent in writing (down 3.9 percent)
? 92 percent in science.
Sixth grade:
? 93.2 percent in reading.
? 80.5 percent in math.
? 82.7 percent in writing.
? 88.7 percent in social studies.
Seventh grade:
? 87.2 percent in reading.
? 74 percent math.
? 63.6 percent in writing (down 2.4 percent)
Eighth grade:
? 82.1 percent in reading.
? 77.9 percent in math.
? 81.7 percent in science (down 5.2 percent)
? 69.2 percent in writing.
Ninth grade:
? 82.1 percent in social studies (down 3.7 percent)