Sunita Somvanshi
Michigan released two sets of school assessment data this week, and they tell different stories. One is about how high schoolers are scoring on the SAT. The other is about how third graders performed against Michigan’s English language arts standards.
The reading picture — and why it matters more
Michigan’s 2026 M-STEP results show that 38.2% of third graders were proficient in English Language Arts. That’s down from 38.9% the year before. More importantly, it’s the lowest third-grade reading proficiency rate in the M-STEP’s 12-year history.
To be clear about what that number means: the M-STEP measures whether students are meeting Michigan’s academic standards. It is not, in the state’s own words, a standalone test for determining whether a child is at grade level. That’s an important qualification — it means reading a headline that says “61.8% of Michigan third graders can’t read” would be inaccurate. The state says M-STEP results should always be interpreted alongside classroom work and other assessment tools.
State Superintendent Glenn Maleyko said Michigan must continue working to improve proficiency across all subjects and grades. The state’s Department of Education pointed specifically to evidence-based instruction including the Science of Reading as part of ongoing efforts.
Reading proficiency also declined in several other grades, though most test results across the 20 reported assessments stayed within two percentage points of 2025 results.
The SAT picture — school rankings, not school quality
The statewide 2026 combined SAT average came in at about 945.1. That’s down from 954 in 2025 and well below the pre-pandemic 2019 average of roughly 985.1. The English/reading-writing average was about 485; math came in around 460.
The Detroit News analyzed school-level data and ranked Michigan high schools by average SAT score:
1. International Academy, Troy — 1301.8 2. International Academy of Macomb — 1241.8 3. Novi High School — 1187.4 4. Washtenaw International High School — 1185.7 5. Troy High School — 1184.6 6. City High Middle School — 1179.7 7. Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy — 1178.7 8. Central High School — 1158.7 9. East Grand Rapids High School — 1156.1 10. Pioneer High School — 1152.3
These rankings measure SAT performance, not overall educational quality. SAT averages are shaped by which students take the test, how many participate, and the makeup of the student population — factors that vary enormously across Michigan schools.
Both the statewide SAT average and third-grade M-STEP ELA proficiency were lower in 2026 than in the immediately preceding comparison year.
