Portage Public Schools is a high-performing school district.  Success transcends data - success is more than just numbers.  Notwithstanding, Portage is proud of its academic achievement.

Portage measures academic achievement in multiple ways:

• In the spotlight are college entrance test scores.  Typically students take these tests during their junior year.
• The Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) assesses 3rd through 8th grades, as well as 11th grade students, once each year.
• The majority of our students participate in the EXPLORE and PLAN tests in the 8th and 10th grade, respectively.  These tests are used for career planning and college entrance test preparation.
• We collect many teacher-developed assessments in grades K-10.  These assessments are intended to measure student progress on specific academic goals that are a part of the district's approved curriculum.

This page will provide a brief review of these items.  If you would like additional information on academic data for your school, please feel free to contact your school's office, or visit the annual report web site.

ACT

The ACT college aptitude test is a norm referenced test.  This means the test is designed to compare student against student, and by extension school against school.  The results can be compared over time.  The chart below shows the last several years of ACT data for Portage Public Schools' students.  Portage has consistently scored above state and national averages.  Each year approximately 2/3's of our 11th grade students take the ACT.

While the state and the district have outperformed national averages on the ACT, it is important to note that neither the entire PPS or state population of 11th graders take the ACT test.  This will change with the spring testing in 2007 - the ACT will be required of all PPS 11th graders and all state 11th graders as well.  In the past, only those students who wanted to take the test took it.  With all 11th graders taking the test, we anticipate that both the state and PPS scores could be lower than previous years.

SAT

The norm referenced SAT college aptitude test is similar to the ACT.  While Portage scores on the SAT are also higher than average, less than 1/3rd of our students take this test.  As such, it is not as statistically relevant to the district as the ACT.  Portage results on the SAT are not included here for that reason.

MEAP

The MEAP test is the largest common assessment used in the state of Michigan.  While its results are often used to compare a single school over time, it is important to note that the MEAP test was not designed for this purpose.  The MEAP test is classified as a criterion referenced test - it measures individual student performance against a rotating set of curriculum benchmarks - basic elements of these tests change annually.  As a result, trend analysis using the MEAP test is of limited value.

Multi-year trend analysis using MEAP scores is not statically sound for several reasons:

• The MEAP test changes each year.
• Multiple versions of the test are used each year, even within individual schools.
• MEAP proficiency scores are based on a scaled score formula that changes each year.
• In recent years, the test has gone from an optional test to a required test at the 11th grade.  When students who do not want to take a test are forced to, the validity of the test results are lessened even more.

For these reasons, Portage focuses on ACT, EXPLORE, and PLAN tests for multi-year trend analysis.

This does not make the MEAP test unimportant or any less valuable as an assessment tool.  The MEAP test derives its value as a curriculum evaluation tool.  Portage uses MEAP results to look at student performance on individual benchmarks.  Where we see students, as a whole or as a sub-group, underperforming on a benchmark, we review the original MEAP test question, benchmark language, and our curriculum in an attempt to identify the specific reason why Portage students did not perform well on the benchmark in question. Where necessary, curriculum or instructional delivery revisions are made.

Just how well is Portage doing on the MEAP?  The table below shows our most recent set of results compared to the state.  The numbers listed reflect the percentage of students listed as proficient in each grade/subject combination.  Portage outperforms the state in every grade level and subject combination.  In fact, Portage Public Schools scores over the 90th percentile on a consistent basis.

EXPLORE/PLAN

While the EXPLORE and PLAN tests are primarily designed to assist individual students with career planning and ACT preparation, at a district level we use these assessments as an external measure of student progress.  By comparing results on the 8th grade EXPLORE to the 10th grade PLAN, we can compare our students' actual progress against their expected progress based upon an established set of national norms.  The EXPLORE/PLAN results have provided Portage with our first look at the effects of our new science curriculum.  Results have been similar to previous years with one exception.  The EXPLORE/PLAN results indicate that students at the higher end of the achievement spectrum could be advancing at a faster rate with the new curriculum versus the previous one.  While this is good news, it is important to remember that this is but one data point.  We will continue to analyze internal and external data related to our science curriculum revision.

INTERNAL DISTRICT ASSESSMENTS

To date, Portage has collected over 4 million individual student assessment scores on district-wide internal assessments.  These assessments are developed by our teaching staff to assess student performance both during and after instruction.  These assessments not only help us in monitoring the delivery of the district's curriculum, they also assist differentiating instruction to our 9,000 unique learners.  On average, 75% of Portage students demonstrate an initial mastery on  internal assessments.  95% of Portage students demonstrate at least a basic level of proficiency at the conclusion of instruction.

SUMMARY

As alluded to earlier, academic data only tells one part of the story.  While our academic data "paints a good picture", other factors are worthy of consideration.  Portage has two of only six International Baccalaureate public high schools in the state.  An overwhelming majority of our students participate in post-secondary education.  Portage has a significant portion of the student body involved in advanced coursework and gifted and talented programs.  In is interesting to note that Portage receives the state's minimum funding allowance per student, and yet our academic performance exceeds state and national averages.

Note:  All data in this report is taken directly from reports provided to Portage Public Schools by the Michigan Department of Education Office of Educational Assessment and Accountability, ACT, and SAT.