Staff Photo: Jason Braverman
South Gwinnett seniors Afomeya Haetamu, left, and Yasmin Abdullahi work on an assignment during their Advanced Placement biology class on Wednesday morning. The school has been focusing on academic rigor by encouraging students to take AP courses and exams for college credit. As a result, 48 percent more students will be taking AP exams this May.
Results from the Michigan Merit Exam are in. Statewide, 11th grade students showed improved test scores in math, science, reading, and writing -- but a drop in social studies.
Statewide, just a quarter of the high school students, 26 percent, passed the science exam. Slightly more, 29 percent, passed the math exam. In reading, 56 percent of Michigan students passed.
Results in Mid-Michigan varied by district. Some schools were on par, or did better, than the state averages.
The Lansing School District lagged behind statewide averages by more than 20 percent in most subjects. In the math exam, only 52 of 573 students, or nine percent, passed. About 32 percent of students passed the reading exam, 10 percent passed the science exam, 19.2 percent passed the social studies exam, and 24.2 percent passed the writing exam.
In East Lansing, 43, or 119 of 276 students, percent passed the math exam, 72 percent passed in reading, 43 percent in science, 55 percent in social studies, and 65 percent in writing.
The Waverly School District saw 24 percent, or 55 of 230 students, pass the math exam, 45 percent pass the reading exam, 13 percent pass the science exam, 26.5 percent pass the social studies exam, and 44 percent pass the writing exam.
Taking a look at Jackson Public Schools --- 16 percent, or 49 of 304 students, scored passing grades in math, 46 percent in reading, 15 percent in science, 29 percent in social studies, and 32 percent in writing.
The Michigan Merit Exam was given to juniors in March. Tougher standards this year meant students had to get more questions right to get a passing grade.
Some good news in the report: the Michigan Department of Education found an increase in the average ACT score, and in the percentage of students who are college-ready.
