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High Schoolers Hold Their Own

Anne Wujcik —Friday, August 15, 2008

ACT released its 2008 College Readiness report this week. The news is mostly good, with ACT reporting that the percentage of high school graduates meeting ACT College Readiness Benchmarks remained stable in math, reading, and science even as more students took the test than ever before. Shifts were relatively minor compared to the last two year and even with results from 2004 and 2005. At the same time, the total number of test-takers grew by 9% compared to last year.

ACT’s College Readiness Benchmarks are scores on the four individual subject tests (English, mathematics, reading, and science) that indicate whether students are ready to succeed (highly likely to earn a “C” or higher) in specific first-year, credit-bearing college courses in those subject areas. Overall, 22% of graduates met or surpassed ACT’s College Readiness Benchmarks in all four subject areas. Graduates struggled most with science, where only 28% of students met or surpassed ACT’s College Readiness Benchmarks, compared to 68% who met the benchmarks in English, 53% in reading and 43% in math.

The 1.42 million members of the U.S. high school graduating class of 2008 who took the ACT represent 43% of all high school graduates nationally, up from 42% in 2007 and 40% percent in 2006. As the number of test takers has grown, so has the diversity of the test-taking population. The number of 2008 African American test-takers increased by 17% compared to last year, while the number of Hispanic test-takers increased by 23%.

Given the growing number of test takers, the fact that scores have remained stable is good news. Several states have added ACT as part of their statewide assessment programs, administering the test to all 11^th grade students. A number of school districts have followed suit, hoping to increase students’ awareness of and preparation for higher education. Many of these students might not have considered going to college in the past. Illinois and Colorado, where all 11^th graders have taken the ACT since 2001, have seen improvements in students’ college preparation and readiness, identification of college-ready students, college enrollment and retention levels, and college graduation rates.