Schools struggle to get back to pre-pandemic…
Schools struggle to get back to pre-pandemic test score levels
Scores are wide ranging, but all below 2019 levels
Schools throughout Oakland County are continuing to try and make up ground to get back to pre-pandemic M-STEP and PSAT scores. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)
By Matthew Fahr | mfahr@medianewsgroup.com | The Oakland Press
PUBLISHED: October 1, 2022 at 2:59 p.m. | UPDATED: October 1, 2022 at 3:02 p.m.
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect students throughout Oakland County based on test scores from the spring.
Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress (M-STEP) scores from Spring 2022 for grades three through seven lag behind scores from Spring 2019. Preliminary SAT tests given to eighth graders also continue to lag behind scores from three years ago.
In mathematics and English Language Arts, which includes reading and comprehension, the majority of the 28 county school districts saw significant drop-offs over the same three-year span. No testing was done for the 2019-20 school year.
"In spite of the great efforts of students, educators, and community members, our schools have not yet returned to pre-pandemic achievement levels, in Michigan or in states across the country," said state Superintendent Mike Rice. "Last year was a stronger year for our children, given the courageous work of our students and staff, but we continue to have a lot of room for improvement."
Oakland schools averaged between seven to 10 percent higher than the statewide average in both subjects at all grade levels.
Overall, Novi had the highest average math scores in the county through all six grade levels in 2022. Just over 70% of students tested were advanced or proficient.
Advanced is defined as a student's performance exceeds academic content standards and proficient indicates understanding and application of key academic content standards.
Their average in 2019 was 76.5%.
In English Bloomfield Hills led the way with 74.7% of students tested advanced or proficient and led the county in four different grade levels – 3rd, 4th, 6th and 8th grades.
They were the only district in the county to raise their average in either subject. Their English average was 70.8% in 2019.
"For the past five years, Bloomfield Hills has concentrated funding, time, and resource support in several key areas, including alignment of K-5 and 6-8 resources, curriculum, and assessments in mathematics and English Language Arts," said Patrick Watson, Bloomfield Hills superintendent. ""Our teachers are the reason the work we have planned for five years could be carried through the pandemic."
In addition to Novi, other top performers in math include Troy and Rochester. But all three districts scored at least 6% lower than those from 2019. The drop-off in English scores for the top four districts – Bloomfield Hills, Novi, Troy and Rochester – was only 2% on average.
At the other end of the scale, Oak Park, Pontiac and Clarenceville were the bottom three performers in math.
Oak Park scored less than 5% proficiency in grades 4 through 7 and Pontiac was under 5% in grades 5 through 7. Oak Park posted an 11.1% proficiency average in 2019 and Pontiac 9.9%.
Oak Park also had the lowest English proficiency score at 13.3%, with Pontiac coming in at 13.8%.
"We knew that with the challenges of the pandemic and students not being in school it would translate to lower test scores for our district," said Heidi Hedquist, communications director for Pontiac schools. "We have been working extensively to put support and resources in place to help our students raise their scores and we have hired additional at-risk social workers, academic advisors and behavioral interventionists across the district."
Another state measurement, called the Student Growth report, revealed more ominous pandemic results.
The report shows changes in scores over time for students who have taken two or more consecutive state assessment tests. It is not about how high or low a student's score is, but how much the student has learned since the prior test.
Every district in the county saw significant drop offs in "above average growth", which is grading in the 70th to 99th percentile of all students tested. Even top performers like Birmingham and Bloomfield Hills notched drop offs of 12.3% and 12.2% respectively.
M-STEP scores are part of the Michigan Index System. The system provides an overall index value for each school based on student growth, proficiency, graduation rates, English learner progress, participation on state assessments and staffing ratios.
Schools are identified for comprehensive support and improvement if the school is in the bottom 5% of schools tested.
"The index system does not rank schools or flag them for sanctions," said Department of Education spokesperson Bill Disessa. "Its goal is to facilitate a culture of continuous improvement in our state's lowest performing schools. The system offers data as a guide to allow school leaders to make evidence-informed decisions about what best will serve students."
Matthew Fahr | Multimedia journalist
Matthew Fahr covers education for The Oakland Press.
mfahr@medianewsgroup.com
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