| SEARCH OnWEAC |
|---|
 Source: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction |
Wisconsin high school students scored second in the nation – continuing a strong history of excellence – on the ACT college admissions test, results released Wednesday (August 15, 2007) revealed.
A record 70% of Wisconsin’s 2007 high school graduates took the test during high school. Their average composite score of 22.3 is up from the 22.2 state students had scored for seven years in row. Wisconsin has been first or second for 18 years in a row, a streak that started before the revenue caps law was enacted.
State students outperformed the national composite score and percentage of students meeting ACT college readiness benchmarks: the minimum ACT score that corresponds with passing college-level classes.
“Wisconsin’s ACT scores are high because Wisconsin’s great schools do an excellent job of preparing students for the future; not just for taking this single test,” said WEAC President Mary Bell. “In Wisconsin, we know what helps students succeed: Great teachers and staff, small class sizes, ongoing teacher training and mentoring, parental involvement and community support.”
“I applaud our class of 2007,” said State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster. “They represent the highest percentage of ACT-takers ever, 70%, and they beat a seven-year string of 22.2 scores. Wisconsin’s 22.3 composite score speaks well of our students’ academic achievement and the support they receive from parents and teachers.”
ACT recommends a core curriculum of four years of English and three or more years each of mathematics, science, and social studies. In Wisconsin, 52% of students reported taking a core curriculum compared to 51% nationally. Wisconsin students taking a core curriculum score an average 1.8 points higher than students who take a less rigorous high school course schedule.
Seventy-seven percent of state students earned at least a benchmark score of 18 on the ACT English test compared to 69% nationally. A benchmark score is the minimum score needed on an ACT subject-area test to indicate a 50% or better chance of earning a “B” or higher grade or about a 75% chance of earning a “C” or better in the corresponding credit-bearing college courses.
In mathematics, 53% of state students earned the benchmark score of 22 or better compared with 43% nationally, meaning these students are ready to take college-level algebra. Sixty percent earned a 21 or higher on the ACT reading test, compared with 53% nationally. The reading score corresponds with readiness for college-level social studies course work.
For science, 37% of Wisconsin students earned a 24 or higher, meaning they are ready for college biology classes. Nationally, 28% of students earned the science (biology) benchmark score.
On ACT subject-area tests, 2007 Wisconsin graduates scored 21.6 (20.7 nationally), mathematics 22.2 (21.0 nationally), reading 22.4 (21.5 nationally) and science 22.4, (20.9 nationally).
Minority-group students represented 11% of Wisconsin ACT test-takers. Generally, Wisconsin’s composite scores by racial/ ethnic group were higher than the nation, with the exception of African-American students, who posted a composite score of 17.0, the same as the national composite score, and of Asian students, who posted an average score of 20.1, below the 22.6 national composite score for that group.
Participation in the ACT has increased markedly for minority students in Wisconsin: 18 percentage points higher for African American students since 2003, and 23 percentage points higher for Hispanic students.
“Wisconsin takes pride in the quality of our public schools: the most highly qualified teachers and staff, top ACT and SAT scores, graduation rates, international science test comparisons, happy and successful students, and a high quality of life,” Bell said. “At the same time, our state’s achievement gap – on the ACT exam and according to other measurers – is unacceptable to our state’s educators and something we work every day to address to the extent a school can. The achievement gap corresponds to Wisconsin’s income gap, and it is exacerbated by our state’s local school district revenue caps and federal laws such as No Child Left Behind.”
This was the second year that ACT reported scores from the optional writing assessment. About 53% of Wisconsin students elected to take the writing exam compared to 41% nationally. Wisconsin’s average score on the essay was 7.7 points on a two- to 12- point scale. Nationally, the average score on the essay was 7.6 points.
Nationwide, a record 1.3 million public and private school students took the ACT at some time during their high school career. The ACT is scored on a scale of one to 36.
DPI news release and charts
State students outscore national averages on SAT
Posted August 15, 2007