MI Third Grade Reading Levels Fall To 10-Year Low

MICHIGAN — Third-grade reading scores in Michigan fell to a 10-year low, according to the 2024 Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress results released Wednesday.

The M-STEP test results showed that only 39.6 percent of Michigan third-graders passed Michigan's English language arts (ELA) test, which was given in the spring.

The number was 40.9 percent last year, 41.6 percent in 2022 and 42.8 percent in 2021, according to test data.

The test scores also show that third grade reading levels haven't rebounded to pre-pandemic levels. In 2019, 45 percent of third-graders scored proficient or higher in reading on the test.

Grades 3 through 8 and grade 11 were tested in english and math, while grades 5, 8 and 11 were also tested in science and social studies.

Reading levels for grades 4 through 8 and grade 11 largely stayed the same, except eight graders, who saw a nearly a 5 percent jump year-over-year, according to test data.

Reading scores for grades 3 through 7 were in the upper 30s and mid 40s percentile. Eight graders jumped from 60 percent to 65 percent, while eleventh graders dropped from 52 percent to 51 percent.

Math scores for grades 3 through 7 largely stayed the same, while grade 8 saw a nearly 4 percent decrease from 36 percent to 32 percent, according to test data.

Math scores for grades 3 through 8 were in the low 40s and 30s percentile. Eleventh graders dropped from 29 percent to 26 percent, according to test data.

Proficiency rates in social studies improved for all grades that were tested (5, 8 and 11). Fifth graders grew from 18 percent to 19 percent, eight graders 28 percent to 30 percent and eleventh graders from 36 percent to 40 percent, according to test data.

In science, proficiency rates improved in grades 5 and 8 and decreased in grade 11, according to test data, according to test data.

Science scores for fifth graders grew from 39 percent to 40 percent and eight graders 37 percent to 39 percent, while eleventh graders fell from 39 percent to 37 percent, according to test data.

"We are encouraged to see continued gradual improvement in proficiency levels measured on most M-STEP and SAT/PSAT tests, particularly on M-STEP math assessments," State Superintendent Michael F. Rice said. "These results reflect hard work by students and educators and investments in education by the governor and legislature. That said, much work remains, both instructionally and financially, for needed supports to students."

You can check M-STEP scores for individual school districts here.