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Wisconsin students rank third nationally in ACT tests
Posted: 8/18/2010 8:29:39 AM
Wisconsin high school graduates scored third nationally on ACT college admissions scores in data released Wednesday (August 18), and a record number of them took the test.
Students’ composite score of 22.1 ranked the state third nationally among ACT-taking states, the Department of Public Instruction said. Through the state, 47,755 class of 2010 graduates took the ACT, representing 69 percent of the state’s most recent graduating class.
“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,” WEAC President Mary Bell said. “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.
“Our union of educators recognizes that there is still more to do so that all Wisconsin students have the opportunity to achieve their potential, and you can be sure we’re willing to do our part.”
According to the DPI, college-readiness benchmarks – billed as a measure of students’ ability to earn passing grades in college-level coursework – were also stable overall. Seventy-five percent of Wisconsin graduates earned a benchmark score of 18 in English in the 2010 report from ACT. For mathematics, 53 percent of students earned the benchmark score of 22. Sixty percent of state students earned the reading benchmark score of 21, which shows they are ready for college-level social sciences courses; and 38 percent earned the science benchmark score of 24, which demonstrates readiness for college-level biology coursework.
Thirty-one percent of state students earned all four benchmark scores, up one percentage point from last year. All of Wisconsin’s benchmark results were significantly above the nation.
For more on the test scores, click here.
