School Board Member 'Disappointed' With Trenton High School Test Results

Trenton Board of Education member Wayne Sieloff said he was "disappointed" after learning that Trenton 11th graders scored below the state average in math and science on the Michigan Merit Exam.

Sieloff learned of the test results at Monday's board of education meeting.

Trenton High School . Trenton students scored four points lower than state averages in both subjects.

"I believe that the board has provided ... resources, even in these trying times, in order to improve this or give the administration and the teachers the tools to do that, and i realize it's going to take some time to do that," Sieloff said. "But, maybe our analysis of our strategies for preparing students for a successful tomorrow isn't working..."

Trenton Director of Curriculum Ann Deneroff and High School Principal Michael Doyle presented the test results to district administrators and school board members at the meeting.

Deneroff stated Trenton juniors performed only slightly better than the state average in reading, writing and social studies, as shown in the chart below.

Sieloff said he was also disappointed in test results of sophomores who took the PLAN test, which is a preliminary ACT test.

The results showed that only 63 percent of students we able to answer a certain sample test question provided in the report. Sieloff believed more students should have been able to answer the question.

Doyle said the majority of student learning happens in the classroom and administrators would have to take a look at classroom instruction to find a reason for the lower test results.

"In education, the rubber hits the pavement in the classroom," Doyle said.

Doyle said he and fellow administrators would create instructional strategies for next year's tests and bring them to the next board of education meeting on Aug. 27.