Berkley High School Outperforms Michigan on Merit Exams

The percent of students who scored at or above a "proficient" level on the 2011 Michigan Merit Exam beat the state average in every category, although their scores were slightly lower than last year's results.

The test scores released Tuesday show students' strength in all areas of the test, which they take in March. The eleventh-graders were tested on math, reading, science, social studies and writing.

"The MME showed increases in the number of students scoring proficient or advanced in four subject areas tested since 2007 – reading, writing, mathematics, and science," according to the Michigan Department of Education. "ACT college entrance exam scores for the more than 109,000 students taking the MME this spring increased for a fourth consecutive year, scoring an average of 19.3 on the ACT Composite, which is up from 18.7 in 2008. The ACT Composite Score is the average of four ACT test scores (English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science)."

recently was ranked No. 333 nationwide and No. 9 in Michigan on Newsweek magazine's annual list of America's Best High Schools. It was the fourth consecutive year the high school has been recognized by Newsweek.

“Students are being challenged with greater rigor and are achieving at higher levels,”state Superintendent of Public Instruction Mike Flanagan said. “Michigan educators are to be commended for the efforts they put in to help more students learn and succeed.”

The chart shows the percent of students proficient or advanced in each of the Michigan Merit Exam subjects, comparing 2010 to 2011.

Source: Michigan Department of Education

*The  for adult and alternative learning – which is located in Southfield and serves approximately 15 districts in Oakland, Wayne and Macomb counties – includes the .