Hartland Schools to Focus on Social Studies After Drop in Scores

Hartland School District officials are pleased with the gains students achieved in math, reading and writing on this year's Michigan Merit Exam, but an unexpected dip in social studies will prompt a review of curriculum.

The percentage of students who scored proficient or advanced fell 8 percent points from 87 percent to 79 percent — the largest shift in any of the scores, according results that were announced .

Hartland High School Principal Chuck Hughes said Thursday the district might shift social studies teachers away from an approach in recent years that centers more on writing — which is typically seen as a natural fit.

"Maybe we got too focused on the writing piece," he said. 

A writing-emphasis throughout the district began five years ago to match toughing state standards. Starting at the elementary level, it aims to have students be able to write persuasively and develop strong arguments, Hughes said. That overall push won't likely change, he said.

Despite the drop in social studies, all of Hartland's scores were above the state average and three of the five subjects and its ACT average ranked second among Livingston County's five public school districts. Brighton ranked first in all the categories. (See below for complete results).

"We have something to shoot for," he said of Brighton's scores. "Our students are doing well, but that doesn't mean we don't want to do better."

More than 400 students took the exam in March. The test replaced the MEAP for juniors and qualifying seniors and measures college readiness. In Hartland, the numbers include students from both Hartland High School and the district's alternative high school, LEGACY.

Hughes said the review in social studies will help determine whether this year's scores might be a one-year hiccup. He said officials are confident they can reverse the trend.

"It is one of those dips we will overcome," he said.

Reading Proficient or Advanced

Science Proficient or Advanced

ACT Average

Reading

Writing

Math

Science

Social Studies

ACT

Brighton

1

1

1

1

1

1

Hartland

2

2

2

3 (tie)

5

2

Howell

4

4

3

5

2

3 (tie)

Fowlerville

3

3

5

3 (tie)

3 (tie)

5

Pinckney

5

5

4

2

3 (tie)

3 (tie)

Livingston County Results for the 2011 Michigan Merit Exam

ACT Average

22.1

Hartland

74%

58%

68%

71%

79%

20.6

Howell

70%

51%

63%

69%

86%

20

Fowlerville

71%

53%

50%

71%

81%

19.6

Pinckney

69%

50%

55%

72%

81%

20

State average

63%

47%

52%

61%

78%

19.3