Detroit Schools See Struggles In Latest Benchmark Exam Results

DETROIT (WWJ) -- It has been a rough start for the Education Achievement Authority schools in Detroit.

According to Michigan Merit Exam scores released Monday, just five 11th grade students out of 649 would be proficient in science. The EAA schools lagged far behind both the state and even Detroit Public Schools.

EAA spokesman Mario Morrow explained the school's approach to teaching.

"What we're trying to do, basically, is not teach the testing content, but rather meet each student at their instructional level," Morrow said. "Right now, several of them are way behind. We don't feel that it's a place that we can compare these test scores with what actually is going on."

Statewide, over half of 11th graders are proficient in reading and writing, but for DPS and EAA those numbers drop considerably, with writing at just 12 percent.

Morrow said that while he wants those numbers to improve, there are other goals.

"Today, short-term goals have included improving the climate and culture," Morrow said. "What we've tried to do in a short period of time is to make sure that all of our students are able to be college and career-ready."

In college readiness, measured by the ACT, DPS sits at 16.4 percent and EAA at 13.7 percent.