CBS DETROIT – The Michigan Department of Education has released the 2024 results for the M-STEP and SAT/PSAT tests, revealing that some grade levels are struggling in certain subjects.
The data shows a decline in English language arts proficiency for third and fourth graders. For example, the percentage of third graders who were proficient in ELA dropped from 40.9% last year to 39.6% in 2024. Fourth graders also saw a decrease, from 44.3% to 43.3%.
On a positive note, third graders showed improvement in math, with proficiency increasing from 42.9% in 2023 to 43.4% in 2024.
In science and social studies, fifth and eighth graders either improved or maintained their performance. However, 11th graders saw better results in social studies but a decline in science.
State officials noted that the COVID-19 pandemic affected students’ progress. Students who attended school in person during the pandemic performed better in math and reading compared to those who were educated remotely.
State Superintendent Michael Rice highlighted that remote learning during the 2020-21 school year, along with being in early education during the pandemic, contributed to these results. He also mentioned that students facing economic challenges performed lower compared to their peers. The M-STEP results revealed that only 27.3% of economically disadvantaged students in grades 3-7 were proficient in ELA, compared to 57.6% of students from more affluent backgrounds.