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Nicholas County ACT scores increase in this year’s results

Nicholas County students improved overall on this year’s battery of ACT results.

Nicholas County had 43 students take the ACT test in this period, down five from the 2007 testing year. The state had 31,728.

In English the composite score increased in English to 17.1 up from 17 reported in 2007. In Mathematics Nicholas County students showed progress improving from 17.3 to 17.7 year over year, doubling the state average of increase.

In the Reading area, Nicholas County’s scores showed the largest increase of all testing areas for local students. Nicholas County scores jumped a full half of a point, .5, from 17.6 to 18.1, while state scores only increased .3.

In the science area, the local scores dipped .3 from 18.2 to 17.9.

According to the readiness letter seven percent meet all criteria for advancing to college, with the largest performance area being College English Composition at 37 percent considered ready for the college challenge.

Local school district officials are pleased with the performance on the test scores and plans are underway to take advantage of the progress of this year’s testing and move forward to build on the success.

The average composite ACT score for Kentucky’s year 2008 college-bound high school seniors gained slightly over the 2007 composite score, according to the Kentucky Department of Education and the Council on Postsecondary Education.

The 2008 composite is 20.9, compared to 2007’s composite of 20.7. Nationally, the 2008 composite score was 21.1, a loss of 0.1 from 2007.

In 2008, 31,728 (72 percent) Kentucky public and nonpublic high school graduates took the test, compared to 1990, when 24,942 Kentucky graduates (62 percent) did.

“Kentucky’s ACT gains have outpaced the nation’s over the past five years,” said Kentucky Education Commissioner Jon E. Draud. “This is a reflection of the commitment shown by educators, legislators, parents and students to improving the high school experience. We must continue this momentum, closing achievement gaps and provide the support all students need to be successful in this critical measure.”

“Increasingly, Kentucky is making progress. More Kentucky high school students took the ACT this year than ever before, and still our state average scores rose. We’re also pleased that more students are electing to take the ACT recommended core courses,” said Richard Crofts, interim president of the Council on Postsecondary Education.

“Our colleges and faculty will continue to work with schools, districts and teachers to help all students across the commonwealth prepare for the level of education they desire and deserve,” he added.

ACT asks test-takers to report the courses they took in high school. Over the past 18 years, there has been a dramatic increase in the percentage of Kentucky students reporting that they are taking ACT’s recommended core courses, with an increase of more than 12,000 students since 1990. In 2008, 65 percent of Kentucky high schoolers who took the ACT noted on surveys that they also took the recommended core courses. However, that percentage is likely higher due to differences in course names and non-completion of surveys.

In 1990 24,942 were tested with 7,088 taking CORE classes. In 2007, 31,728 were tested with 20,486 taking CORE classes.

The overall ACT Assessment consists of tests in four areas: English, mathematics, reading and science reasoning. ACT recommends that college-bound students take four or more years of English; three or more years of mathematics (including algebra 1, algebra 2 and geometry); three or more years of social studies; and three or more years of natural sciences. ACT defines specific courses in these areas. Kentucky’s graduation requirements define four credits in English; three in mathematics; three in social studies; three in science; one in history and appreciation of visual and performing arts; and one-half each in health and physical education.

ACT developed College Readiness Benchmarks in English, mathematics, science and reading, with research indicating that students who reach the levels have a high probability of earning a C grade or higher in certain credit-bearing first-year college courses. The benchmark scores are:

18 or higher on the ACT English Test

22 or higher on the ACT Math Test

21 or higher on the ACT Reading Test

24 or higher on the ACT Science Test

Many Kentucky colleges and universities use ACT scores to inform admissions decisions and to place students in appropriate college courses. ACT scores also are used, along with high school grade point averages, to determine the amount of money high school graduates are eligible to receive through the Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship program.

In comparing Kentucky with the nation, the widest gap in performance among students was in overall mathematics scores (1.1 points) and the smallest was in reading (0 point).

African-American students in Kentucky who took the college-bound curriculum performed similarly to African-American students at the national level, but Kentucky’s African-American students’ average composite score was 0.4 points higher than the national average. At both the national and state levels, the gap between the performance of African-American and white students persisted.

Over the past few years, the numbers of non-white students taking the ACT in Kentucky have risen. According to ACT, increases in student populations taking the test can lead to a drop in scores; however, all ethnic groups in Kentucky have seen score increases since 2004.

The composite score gaps between males and females of all ethnic groups in Kentucky were minimal in most subjects, with males posting a composite score of 21.1 and females a score of 20.6. On ACT, which offers only multiple-choice questions, males tend to outscore females in mathematics and science, and females tend to outscore males in English and reading.

Kentucky is unique in the nation because it has implemented the Educational Planning and Assessment System (EPAS) from ACT and, through 2006’s Senate Bill 130, administers the ACT to all public school juniors. The state assesses public school 8th graders using the EXPLORE test and assesses public school 10th graders with the PLAN test through EPAS.

All of Kentucky’s public school juniors took the ACT for the first time in the spring of 2008. Data from those assessments likely will be available in September.