Natalya's+Group+Project+-+Part+1

__** Talya's Group Project - Part 1 **__ = =  1. How does Michigan compare to Washington in Mathematics? (2009) Washington scored higher than Michigan in Mathematics in 2009 in both the 4th grade and the 8th grade. Washington also scored higher than the national average in both grades. Washington only scored one point higher in math for 4th graders than the national average but six points higher with 8th graders. Overall, Washington's average math score has gone up every year for both grades since they started keeping track in 1996. There was a slight decrease from 2007 to 2009 for the 4th graders of one point but it is not a significant difference in terms of data. Washington also has a higher percentage of students who are performing "at or above basic level" in both grades than Michigan. When comparing the two states Washington started out at the same level as the national average and has increased since then. Michigan was higher than the national average in 1990 in both grades but leveled off for both grades in 2003 and showed very little improvement while the national average continued to rise each year.
 * = Grade level ||= Washington ||= Michigan ||= National ||
 * = 4th grade ||= 240 ||= 236 ||= 239 ||
 * = 8th grade ||= 289 ||= 278 ||= 282 ||
 * = 12th grade ||= Not available ||= Not Available ||= 152 ||

2. How does Michigan compare to Washington in Reading? (2009)
 * = Grade level ||= Washington ||= Michigan ||= National ||
 * = 4th grade ||= 221 ||= 218 ||= 220 ||
 * = 8th grade ||= 267 ||= 262 ||= 262 ||
 * = 12th grade ||= Not Available ||= Not Available ||= 287 ||

Washington scored higher than Michigan in Reading in 2009 in both the 4th and 8th grades. Like Math, Washington also scored higher than the national average in both grades. The state only scored one point higher than the national average in 4th grade and five points higher in the 8th grade. Washington's average reading score has been higher than the national average for both grades since NAEP started keeping track in 1994 for 4th graders and 1998 for 8th graders. Both grades peaked in 2002 with high scores but began to level off. The Washington State 8th graders scores are only one point away from their highest in 2002, but the 4th graders are 3 points below their highest in 2002. Washington also has a higher percentage of students who are performing "at or above basic level" in both grades than Michigan. When comparing the two states Washington started out higher than the national average and peaked in 2002 and leveled off since then but still ending up above the national average. Michigan started off higher than the national average in 1990 for 8th graders and 1992 for 4th graders but both scores leveled off in 2000 and stayed the same while the national average has continued to rise each year.

3. How does grade 4 compare to grade 8 with respect to Race/Ethnicity, Parental Education, and Family Income in the area of History?

In 2006 White and Asian/Pacific Islander scored higher than average in History. Native Americans, Hispanic and African-Americans scored significantly lower than average. Hispanic and White scores rose dramatically from 2001 to 2006. African-Americans scores improved but not as significantly. Asian/Pacific Islanders leveled out from 2001 to 2006. White, African-American, Hispanic, and Pacific Islander/Asian students all had higher average scores in 2006 than in 1994. The achievement gap doesn't seem to be making significant closures but everyone's average scores are going up.
 * Race/Ethnicity **
 * =  ||=  White  ||=  Asian/Pacific Islander  ||=  Native American  ||=  Hispanic  ||=  African-American  ||= Average ||
 * = 4th grade  ||=  223  ||=  214  ||=  190  ||=  194  ||=  190  ||= 211 ||
 * = 8th grade  ||=  273  ||=  270  ||=  244  ||=  248  ||=  244  ||= 263 ||
 * = 12th grade  ||=  297  ||=  296  ||=  278  ||=  275  ||=  270  ||= 290 ||


 * Parental Education **
 * =  ||=  Did Not Finish HS  ||=  Finished HS  ||=  Some Education after HS  ||=  Graduated College  ||
 * = 4th grade  ||=  No data  ||=  No data  ||=  No data  ||=  No Data  ||
 * = 8th grade  ||=  244  ||=  252  ||=  265  ||=  290  ||
 * = 12th grade  ||=  268  ||=  278  ||=  290  ||=  300  ||

The higher the parents' education the higher the average score on the history test. Each group increased over the years on the history test with the exception of the parent who graduated college leveled off in 2001 but their score is still significantly higher than any other group.

Overall the students that had a free or a reduced lunch did not do as well on the exam as a student that was not eligible. Free or reduced lunches are based on family income and size. If a students has a free or reduced lunch it is because they come from home with lower incomes close or below the poverty line. The difference between the test scores is 31 for the 4th graders between not eligible and free lunch and 30 for 8th grade.
 * Family Income **
 * =  ||=  Free Lunch  ||=  Reduced Lunch  ||=  Not Eligible  ||=  Info Not Available  ||
 * = 4th grade  ||=  193  ||=  206  ||=  224  ||=  227  ||
 * = 8th grade  ||=  245  ||=  256  ||=  273  ||=  281  ||
 * = 12th grade  ||=  No data  ||=  No data  ||=  No data  ||=  No Data  ||

4. How does Michigan compare to Washington in Writing for grade 8? Washington State scored higher than the national average in writing in 2007. Michigan was lower than the national average in 2007. Both Washington and Michigan improved their writing scores from 2002. Washington's average score went up three points and Michigan's average score went up four points.
 * = Grade level ||= Washington ||= Michigan ||= National ||
 * = 8th grade ||= 158 ||= 151 ||= 154 ||

5 How does Michigan compare to Washington with respect to 9 yr. old students?
 * =  ||= Washington ||= Michigan ||= National ||
 * = Math (2009) ||= 242 ||= 236 ||= 239 ||
 * = Reading (2009) ||= 221 ||= 218 ||= 220 ||
 * = Science (2005) ||= 153 ||= 152 ||= 149 ||
 * = Writing (2002) ||= 158 ||= 147 ||= 153 ||

Washington State scores higher than Michigan in all subjects and higher than the national average in all subjects for 4th graders (9 year old students). Each year Washington saw growth in their scores in Math and Reading. The NAEP website only shows results for one year's results for Science and Writing so we can not compare the data from previous years. Michigan is below average in Math, Reading, and Writing. They are above the national average in Science. The Math scores in Michigan rose steadily until 2009 where they dropped two points. Michigan's scores in Reading went up dramatically in 2002 to but leveled off and went down two points in 2009.

6 How does Michigan compare to Washington with respect to 13 yr. old students?
 * =  ||= Washington ||= Michigan ||= National ||
 * = Math (2009) ||= 289 ||= 278 ||= 282 ||
 * = Reading (2009) ||= 267 ||= 262 ||= 262 ||
 * = Science (2005) ||= 154 ||= 155 ||= 147 ||
 * = Writing (2002) ||= 158 ||= 147 ||= 152 ||

Washington State scores higher than Michigan in Math, Reading, and Writing and higher than the national average in all subjects for 8th graders (13 year old students). Each year Washington saw growth in their scores in Math and Writing. Their Reading scores peaked in 2002 and went down but then started to rise again to almost the same score in 2009 as 2002. The NAEP website only shows results for one year's results for Science so we can not compare the data from previous years. Michigan is below average in Math and Writing. They scored the same as the national average in Reading and above the national average in Science. The Math scores in Michigan rose dramatically in 1996 where they leveled off. Michigan's scores in Reading were dropping but went back up in 2009 but not as high as they first scored in 2002.

7. How does Michigan compare to Washington in Mathematics, Reading, Science, History, and Writing for 8th grade students when examining race/ethnicity (white and black)?


 * =  ||= WA Caucasian ||= WA African-American ||= MI Caucasian ||= MI African-American ||= National Caucasian ||= National African-American ||
 * = Math ||= 295 ||= 269 ||= 286 ||= 246 ||= 292 ||= 260 ||
 * = Reading ||= 273 ||= 245 ||= 268 ||= 238 ||= 271 ||= 245 ||
 * = Science ||= 158 ||= 137 ||= 163 ||= 128 ||= 159 ||= 123 ||
 * = Writing ||= 162 ||= 150 ||= 156 ||= 132 ||= 162 ||= 140 ||
 * = History ||= No Data ||= No Data ||= No Data ||= No Data ||= 273 ||= 244 ||

In both Washington State and Michigan there is a significant difference in scores between African-American and Caucasian students.

Math: In Washington the Caucasian students scored higher than the national Caucasian average score in Math. The African-American students in Washington State scored higher than the national African-American average score. Both the Caucasians and African-Americans in Michigan scored lower than national average for both respectively.

Reading: The Caucasian students in Washington State scored higher than the national average for Caucasian students in Reading. The African-American students in Washington scored the same as the National African-American score in Reading. Both races in Michigan scored lower than their respective races in Washington and the national average.

Science: Washington's Caucasian students scored lower than the national Caucasian average score. Washington science's scores for African-American students are higher than the national African-American score. Michigan's Caucasian and African-American students' scores are both higher than their respective races in both Washington and the national average.

Writing: In Washington the Caucasian students scored the same as the national Caucasian average score in Writing. The African-American students in Washington State scored higher than the national African-American average score. Both the Caucasians and African-Americans in Michigan scored lower than national average for both respectively.

History: There is no data for the History scores in Washington or in Michigan so they cannot be compared to the National Caucasian or National African-American scores.

8 Using the MDE website for MEAP score and achievement gap trends

The statewide average MAEP scores for 8th grade readers for all students has made gains of 10.3 from 2005 to 2009. African-Americans, economically disadvantaged children, and students with disabilities went up 12.5 points. Hispanics made gains of 12.4. Limited English students made gains of 10.2 points.

The percentage of students that were considered proficient on MAEP in Reading in Grade 8 has gone up since 2005. From 2005 to 2009 the all students made gains of 10.5 percent. African-American scores went up 18 percent. Economically disadvantaged students went up 16.6 percent. Hispanic students made the most significant gains of 18.7 percent. Limited English students made the least amount of gain of 13.5 percent and students with disabilities' average went up 15.5 percent.

The statewide average MAEP achievement gap in Grade 8 reading for African-Americans from 2005-2009 is closing. The gap was 12.9 in 2005 rose to 15.5 in 2006 but then started going down until it hit its lowest of 10.7 in 2009. The gap changed just as much for economically disadvantaged students. The gap started as 10.1 in 2005 went up to 11.6 in 2006 and then started going down until it was 7.9 in 2009. The gap is also closing with the Hispanic students. It gap started at 9.5 in 2005 but went up to 10.6 in 2006 but went down until it hit an all-time low of 7.4 in 2009. Limited English students are the only group that did not see a closing with the gap. In 2005 they started with 16.0 went up to 21.4 in 2006 and then started to go down until it hit 16.1 in 2009, which is a -0.1 change. Students with disabilities is also shrinking their gap by 2.2 from 2005 to 2009. The gap grew in 2006 and again in 2008 but went down in 2009.

When comparing the students who scored "proficient" on the MAEP grade 8 reading exam the gap is closing for all disadvantaged students but the ones with the biggest rate of closure were Hispanic students whose gap went down by 8.2 points. African-American students went down 2nd by 7.5 points. Economically disadvantaged students gap closed by 6.1 points. Students with disabilities closure points were lower with 5.0. The lowest gap closure was the Limited English group with a closure point of 3.0

9 Provide a general summary of your findings with respect to mathematics, science, reading, history, and writing, from the data analyzed.

When looking at the findings Washington State scored higher than the National Average in all subjects and higher than Michigan in all subjects with the exception of the subject of science for 8th graders. Washington's African-Americans also scored higher than the national average and Michigan students.

In Math both Washington and Michigan scores are improving every year but Michigan is improving at a slower rate and lower than the national average.

Both Washington and Michigan 4th graders scored higher than the national average in science but the 8th graders in Washington are just one point below average while Michigan's 8th graders are above average.

When comparing the reading scores in Washington and Michigan Washington performs better than Michigan and the national average in all grades tested.

In history the state findings were not available so we must look at the average scores for 4th, 8th and 12th grades in all states. In 2006 the scores were higher than 1994 and 2001. In 4th grade, the scores rose 6 points, in 8th and 12th grades scores rose 4 points each from 1994 to 2006.

Washington State scored higher than the national average in writing in 2007. Michigan was lower than the national average in 2007. Both Washington and Michigan improved their writing scores from 2002. Washington's average score went up three points and Michigan's average score went up four points.