State Students Again Record Nation's Highest ACT Scores

For the seventh consecutive year, Wisconsin students scored first in the nation among states where the ACT is the predominant college admissions test, according to figures released Wednesday (August 20, 2003).

The state maintained its top ranking even though 2,200 more state students took the ACT this year. In addition, the participation of minority students increased.

“This ranking is more proof that Wisconsin has great schools that provide classrooms that work and the nation's best teachers and education support professionals,” WEAC President Stan Johnson said. He also credited strong community support for public education and the dedication of Wisconsin students and their parents.

Wisconsin's composite score held at 22.2 for the fourth consecutive year, compared to the national composite score of 20.8. In Wisconsin, 45,669 students, or 69% of 2003 graduates, took the ACT during their high school career. Students of color made up 9.2% of ACT-takers, up from 7.1% participation in 1996.

Scores on the subject area tests of the ACT were the same as in 2002 for Wisconsin with the exception of math which dipped one-tenth of a point.

At the national level, subscores for English and reading were up one-tenth of a point from the previous year; math and sciences scores were constant. Nationally, a record 1.2 million graduates took the exam, 40% of all graduating seniors.

State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster, who released the state results, said it is vital that the state work to further close the achievement gap between students of color and their peers.

The composite score for African-American students was 17.1, below the statewide average composite score but higher than the national composite score for African-American students of 16.9. The achievement gap for students of color and their majority peers in Wisconsin ranged from 2.3 points for American Indian students to 5.4 points for African-American students.

The national rankings are based on 25 states in which 50% or more of high school graduates took the ACT. In some states, the SAT is the predominant college entrance exam. Wisconsin students who take the SAT also consistently score above the national average.

Department of Public Instruction news release and detailed ACT results (This is a PDF file. You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer to open this file. Acrobat Reader can be downloaded for free from the Adobe Web site.)

Posted August 20, 2003