Trenton's MME Scores Decrease; ACT Average Declines Slightly
Data from the Michigan Department of Education shows the Class of 2013 did worse on the Michigan Merit Exam than their predecessors.
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Trenton High School students scored above state average on the Michigan Merit Exam (MME) in all subjects except math and science. Trenton students scored four points lower than state averages in both math and science, according to a report released by the Michigan Department of Education this morning.
Last year, Trenton students performed better than the statewide average in all five subject areas tested.
The test, taken each spring by high school juniors, showed that the Class of 2013 fared slightly better than their recently graduated peers in reading, writing and social studies.
Students also took the ACT. Trenton's average composite ACT score is 19.5, which it about a point lower than last year. Trenton's ACT score is slightly above the state average of 19 out of a possible 36.
Trenton High School's 2012 MME Scores Compared to State Averages (Percent of students who met proficiency)
| Reading | Writing | Math | Science | Social Studies | |
| Trenton | 60 | 50 | 25 | 22 | 43 |
| Michigan | 56 | 49 | 29 | 26 | 41 |
The MDE adopted a tougher standard for passing the MME this year to better represent the number of students who are college-ready. Students had to score higher on the tests to receive a passing, or "proficient", score. The following numbers show scores for the past three years, which were retrospectively adjusted to reflect the new MME scoring standards.
Trenton High School 4-Year MME Score Comparison (Percent of students who met proficiency)
| Reading | Writing | Math | Science | Social Studies | |
| 2012 | 60 | 50 | 25 | 22 | 43 |
| 2011 | 63 | 50 | 31 | 32 | 56 |
| 2010 | 60 | 50 | 22 | 25 | 44 |
| 2009 | 54 | 48 | 30 | 28 | 47 |
Statewide, student achievement on the MME showed positive one-year gains and even larger four-year gains in mathematics, reading, writing, and science, the Michigan Department of Education reported.
The overall composite scores for Michigan high school juniors on the ACT college-entrance exam also increased for the fourth consecutive year, as did the percentage of Michigan students who are career- and college-ready.
This is a developing story. Check back with Trenton Patch for comments from Trenton administrators.
Ian
4:41 pm on Thursday, June 28, 2012
I would have died if I had gotten a 19 on the ACT.
Home Owner, Tax Payer
9:24 pm on Thursday, June 28, 2012
Thank God we invested in Catholic School. Both children scored over 30 on the ACT..
Leah Derby
11:57 am on Friday, June 29, 2012
A Catholic school did not prepare your kids for that test. Your expectations of your children and their desire to succeed prepared them for that test. The average has now been thrown for a huge loop since many schools are REQUIRING it. A few years ago, only those students took the test who a: wanted to go to college and b: prepared to take the test. So now many students are taking the test who neither care about their score nor plan to go to college.
TJ
3:40 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
Leah, I agree. Don't blame the school. If the parents don't care, the kids won't succeed.
michelle
10:12 am on Monday, July 2, 2012
What I don't get is that my son gets mostly A's and a couple of B's in Arthurs and yet he didn't do that great on the standardized testing from last fall. I'm thinking the schools may need to look at the curriculum. I think maybe they are missing something. He said most of his classes are not challenging. Did they dumb things down? He didn’t seem prepared for standardized tests. He never had a problem before.