Results for the latest set of Michigan Education Assessment Program (MEAP) testing were released from the Michigan Department of Education March 9 and Oxford officials say they’re pleased.
Despite several changes in testing this year, which included a consolidation of testing for grades 4-8 for the first time and the addition of testing for third-graders, Jim Schwarz, executive director of curriculum for Oxford schools said the scores were ‘above the state average and the county average in most areas.?
‘We’re actually pretty proud of them,? he said.
Students were tested in math, reading, science, social studies, writing and English language arts.
Schwarz attributed the lower scores regarding those who exceeded Michigan standards in writing to the ‘difficulty? in the test and the lack of interest in the subject that was written about.
‘If they have a prompt that is relatively (non)motivating, then our schools don’t look as good,? he said.
Schwarz said Oxford’s goal for the next school year is to make writing a high priority for improvement.
Results for the Winter 2005 MEAP for Oxford Area Community Schools are as follows:
Third grade
? Math ? 55.4 percent exceeded Michigan standards and 36 percent met Michigan standards.
? Reading ? 41.3 percent exceeded Michigan standards and 51.6 percent met Michigan standards.
? Writing ? 3.2 percent exceeded Michigan standards and 47.4 percent met Michigan standards.
? English language arts ? 16.1 percent exceeded Michigan standards and 70.6 met Michigan standards.
Fourth grade
? Math ? 36.7 percent exceeded Michigan standards and 49.9 percent met Michigan standards.
? Reading ? 25.1 percent exceeded Michigan standards and 63.4 percent met Michigan standards.
? Writing ? 2.1 percent exceeded Michigan standards and 60.3 percent met Michigan standards.
? English language arts ? 8.7 percent exceeded Michigan standards and 73.4 percent met Michigan standards.
Fifth grade
? Math ? 35.3 percent exceeded Michigan standards and 49.5 percent met Michigan standards.
? Reading ? 38.4 percent exceeded Michigan standards and 54.4 met Michigan standards.
? Science ? 33.7 percent exceeded Michigan standards and 55 percent met Michigan standards.
? Writing ? 2 percent exceeded Michigan standards and 65.8 percent met Michigan standards.
? English language arts ? 14.8 percent exceeded Michigan standards and 73.4 met Michigan standards.
Sixth grade
? Math ? 29.3 percent exceeded Michigan standards and 44.5 percent met Michigan standards.
? Reading ? 28.9 percent exceeded Michigan standards and 56.5 percent met Michigan standards.
? Social Studies ? 55.2 percent exceeded Michigan standards and 27.9 percent met Michigan standards.
? Writing ? 7 percent exceeded Michigan standards and 67.5 percent met Michigan standards.
? English language arts ? 14 percent exceeded Michigan standards and 67.2 percent met Michigan standards.
Seventh grade
? Math ? 30.8 percent exceeded Michigan standards and 39 percent met Michigan standards.
? Reading ? 22.3 percent exceeded Michigan standards and 59.2 percent met Michigan standards in reading.
? Writing ? 0.6 percent exceeded Michigan standards and 65.4 percent met Michigan standards.
? English language arts ? 3.1 percent exceeded Michigan standards and 72.3 percent met Michigan standards.
Eighth grade
? Math ? 32.3 percent exceeded Michigan standards and 34.2 percent met Michigan standards.
? Reading ? 17 percent exceeded Michigan standards and 60.9 percent met Michigan standards.
? Science ? 40.4 percent exceeded Michigan standards and 46.5 percent met Michigan standards.
? Writing ? 3.2 percent exceeded Michigan standards and 65.4 percent met Michigan standards.
? English language arts ? 6.4 percent exceeded Michigan standards and 68.8 percent met Michigan standards.