There’s some good news for the Detroit Public Schools in newly-released Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) scores.
42% of the district’s 3rd-through-8th graders scored “proficient or advanced” in reading. That’s up more than 6% from the prior year.
Math scores jumped more than 4%, with fewer than 15% of students rated proficient.
In most subjects, Detroit students’ gains outpaced state averages. But the district’s scores still remain well below state averages.
Roy Roberts, the district’s emergency financial manager, says that’s exactly the sort of progress people should expect at this point.
“If I had walked in here and said we’ve improved every class by 25%, you oughta call the FBI,” Roberts said. “It doesn’t happen that way. It’s incremental improvement.”
The number of Detroit students tested did drop more than 20% this year, though, as the district’s enrollment shrunk significantly.
The state-run Education Achievement Authority took over 15 of the district’s lowest-performing schools last fall, leaving fewer kids in DPS. The district also has a dramatic long-term enrollment decline.
But that’s not the case at Dixon Elementary-Middle school on thecity’s far west side. That school has actually increased
enrollment—and posted some of the biggest gains citywide on this
year’s MEAP scores.
Principal Ora Beard took over the school three years ago. She says boosting student achievement in a school takes time—and lots of reaching out to students and parents to build trust.
“Our first year was totally building relationships,” said Beard. “And trying to get them to understand that we’re not here to fight you…we’re here to help you. And that’s what school’s got to be about.”
