Wisconsin ACT scores remain high

From the Department of Public Instruction
Wisconsin students - with a 22.2 composite score on the ACT for the seventh consecutive year - 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.

Sixty-eight percent (44,275) of the state’s 2006 graduates took the ACT at some time during their sophomore, junior, or senior years of high school. Minority-group students were 10.9% of Wisconsin ACT-takers, a participation increase of 2 percentage points from five years ago.

The state’s 22.2 composite score missed first place among the 25 states where the ACT is the predominate college admissions test by one-tenth of a point. The national composite score was 21.1.

“Overall, Wisconsin beat the nation on the ACT,” said State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster. “Our 2006 graduates showed consistent performance on their subject-area and composite scores and in attaining college readiness benchmarks. This achievement is directly related to higher percentages of our students taking a college-preparatory curriculum, which is proven to make a difference on ACT scores and future college success.

“We must encourage all students to take rigorous high school courses that fit their career interests,” Burmaster said. “While we should celebrate exceeding national averages as an educational success, Wisconsin students, with our support, can do more. To improve academic performance we must encourage parents to be involved in course selection so our students take the rigorous classes that will better prepare them for postsecondary studies,” she said.

ACT recommends a core curriculum of four years of English and three or more years each of mathematics, science, and social studies. In Wisconsin, 57% of students reported taking a core curriculum compared to 54% nationally. State students taking a core curriculum had a composite score of 22.9 and subject area scores that were 2.2 to 1.5 points higher than students who didn’t take the ACT-recommended core course work. Nationally students who took a core curriculum had a composite score of 22.0 and subject area scores that were 2.6 to 2.0 points higher than students who took a less rigorous high school curriculum.

Seventy-seven percent of state students earned 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, 52% of state students earned the benchmark score of 22 or better compared with 42% nationally, meaning these students are ready to take college-level algebra. Sixty-one 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, 35% of Wisconsin students earned a 24 or higher, meaning they are ready for college biology classes. Nationally, 27% of students earned the science (biology) benchmark score.

On ACT subject-area tests, 2006 graduates posted scores that were identical to last year with one exception. Wisconsin’s ACT English score was 21.5 (20.6 nationally), mathematics 22.0 (20.8 nationally), reading 22.4 (21.4 nationally) and science 22.2, down one-tenth of a point from last year, (20.9 nationally). Wisconsin’s composite score was 22.2. The national composite score was 21.1, which was up two-tenths of a point from the previous year.

Minority-group students represented 10.9% of Wisconsin ACT test-takers, a slight increase from 2005 and 2.1 percentage points higher than participation in 2002 when 8.7% of ACT-takers were minority-group students. Generally, Wisconsin’s composite scores by racial/ ethnic group were higher than the nation, with the exception of African-American and Asian students.

“We know there is a gap in achievement between students of color, economically disadvantaged students, and their peers,” Burmaster said. “To close that gap, we must hold steady in supporting 4-year-old kindergarten and the P-5 and Student Achievement Guarantee in Education (SAGE) programs, that reduce class sizes in lower grades and provide a solid educational foundation for our students. We must sustain our efforts to expand gifted and talented programming at the middle school level and continue support for Wisconsin Educational Opportunity Programs that counsel students to take rigorous courses, introduce them to college-level studies, and provide career and educational planning,” Burmaster said.

This was the first year that ACT reported scores from the optional writing assessment. About 48% of Wisconsin students elected to take the writing exam compared to 36% nationally. Wisconsin’s average score on the essay was 7.9 points on a two- to 12- point scale. Nationally, the average score on the essay was 7.7 points.

Nationwide, more than 1.2 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

Posted August 16, 2006