I have been listening closely, waiting to hear how my child’s academic learning is going benefit from the $155,000,000 bond. The simple fact is that no matter how the district wants to spin it, not one dollar from this fund will be used to improve academic results. And believe me when I tell you, GHAPS is not batting 1000 when it comes to student test scores. Before we take a closer look at GHHS students’ SAT scores, know that they are not alone. Most schools in Michigan are facing declining test scores and are struggling to find solutions to better performance.
In the 2015-2016 school year, the Michigan Department of Education began using the SAT – College Board Test as its state assessment for all 11th graders. In 2010 Michigan schools began using Common Core Standards, and in 2017 the Michigan Department of Education published the Early Childhood to Grade 12 Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Competencies and Indicators to help guide school districts in implementing SEL practices in their schools. Michigan SAT scores tell the story of the failings of Common Core and SEL programs.
Looking at SAT scores of students in Grand Haven and across Michigan from 2015 to 2022, there is not a lot to celebrate. The SAT is used to assess if students are on the path to college readiness. Benchmark scores answer the question of whether a student’s academic education in reading, writing and mathematics has prepared them for success in college. The ugly truth is most Michigan students are not ready for college.
The chart below shows GHAPS, the state of Michigan, and National overall SAT scores, reading & writing SAT scores, and math SAT scores for each school year from 2015 to 2022 (except for the 2019-2020 school year). Michigan suspended student testing for 2019- 2020 due to the Covid 19 pandemic.
At first glance, GHAPS scores do not look all that bad. All Grand Haven scores are better than Michigan average scores. GHAPS reading & writing scores are also above the benchmark score of 480 every year, but GHAPS falls short of national scores in every category except 2015-16 math. In addition, GHAPS math scores have never even reached the benchmark score of 530.
SAT scores are a big deal, especially to those students that intend to go to college. Their SAT scores along with their high school G.P.A. determine whether or not they are eligible to apply to certain colleges and universities. GHAPS SAT scores are good when compared to other Michigan schools, but are they good enough to be competitive? GHAPS students are not only competing with other Michigan students for admission into colleges and universities, but also with students from other states and other countries.
GHAPS SAT scores just like M-Step scores have been declining year after year. In fact, there has been a 30-point decease in the overall GHAPS SAT score from the 2015-16 school year to the 2021-22 school year.
GHAPS SAT Reading & Writing Scores have fallen 13.9 points from the 2015-16 school year to the 2021-22 school year.
From the 2015-16 school year to the 2021-22 school year, GHAPS SAT Math scores are 16.1 points lower.
SAT scores are going in the wrong direction not only for GHAPS students but for students in Michigan and throughout the nation.
So how do Michigan and GHAPS SAT scores compare with scores from other states? The chart below shows Michigan third from the bottom, and GHAPS in the bottom half of the chart three spots below the National average.
So, what’s going on? Scores have been declining year after year, and Michigan is now ranked almost last in the nation. Simultaneously test scores in the United States have been declining, and American students are falling further and further behind their peers in other nations. Common Core curriculum standards have not been successful. School districts have implemented these standards, and it is evident that one size does not fit all.
After the implementation of Common Core standards, school districts looked for new solutions to improve test scores. Some districts experimented with SEL programs that State Departments of Education offered with promises for extra funding and improvement in student test scores. GHAPS has been implementing various SEL programs in every kindergarten through 12th grade classroom since 2017. And what do they have to show for it? Definitely not better SAT scores.
Do not let the GHAPS administration distract you from this academic failure with the promises of new buildings, playgrounds, and music equipment. Shiny objects will not improve performance. Providing teachers with adequate support, less curriculum change, and a reduction in non-educational teacher duties will go much further in helping our students achieve academic success.