Novi Schools Rank in Top 25 Percent in Michigan

All Novi schools are in the top 25 percent of schools in Michigan, according to the latest school rankings released by the Michigan Department of Education.

Deerfield elementary tops the rankings in the 99th percentile, while Novi High School is the lowest ranked Novi School at the 77th percentile

The MDE's website says that it publishes the list to provide "light of day" reporting on the achievement, improvement and achievement gaps of all schools in Michigan.

There are no district rankings or consequences to the schools.

“Some schools are doing well at preparing students. Too many others still are struggling. But we all can improve,” said state Superintendent of Public Instruction Mike Flanagan in a statement. “In order for Michigan to succeed in this competitive global economy, our schools need to step up their efforts – some, in a big way. I encourage communities to have honest discussions with their school leaders to embrace and support the changes needed to move forward.”

The percentile ranking for each school for this year and the past year are as follows:

98

Changes in calculations

Although Novi saw several jumps and drops in the rankings, the MDE changed its complex formula used to calculate the rankings from 2010, so the rankings from both years are not directly comparable.

Achievement is the major factor in the ranking and is based on the most recent two-year data of , MI Access and MEAP scores. Last year, schools were ranked only on math and reading. This year, science was added to all schools, social studies was added to middle schools and high schools, and writing was added to the high school calculations.

Achievement gap, or a measurement of the difference between the schools' top students and bottom students, was also a factor added to the 2011 calculations. For high schools, graduation rate and improvement were also factored into the 2011 rankings.

Student achievement accounts for half of the ranking, while an improvement in achievement accounts for a quarter. Achievement gap accounts for another quarter.

A closer look at Novi's achievement

Although the rankings do not have any consequences for the schools, Assistant Superintendent of Academic Services RJ Webber said the rankings can sometimes bring concerns to parents when they see them.

"These numbers can be very difficult," Webber said. "My concern, really, from our district's perspective is I look at a Woods or a Deerfield—where else do they have to go? If they have a year where their kids "drop" to 97, is that seen as a way that will bring it down to like 77 percent? Because they're basing it on these percentage drops or increases. I'm not sure."

He said that schools that are already high achieving could be negatively affected in the rankings if they drop from a highly proficient to a proficient score because the ranking takes academic improvement into account.

In hopes of combating that issue, the MDE is no longer giving an improvement rating to schools that have more than a 90 percent proficiency rating or graduation rates. Instead, the students are considered improving if they maintain that same high level of achievement.

Webber said the hopes to build their own internal grading system within the next five years so the district does not have to rely on MME or ACT College Readiness reports to track how each student is doing. He said he will continue to examine the MDE's data and talk with parents about the numbers.