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From the Department of Public Instruction
2008 ACT scores |
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| Wisconsin | National | |
| English | 21.7 |
20.6 |
| Math | 22.3 |
21.0 |
| Reading | 22.6 |
21.4 |
| Science | 22.3 |
20.8 |
| Composite | 22.3 |
21.1 |
Wisconsin’s 2008 graduates out-performed their peers nationally, posting a composite score of 22.3 on the ACT college admissions test. The score maintains last year’s increase and is well above the national composite score of 21.1, which dropped one-tenth of a point from the previous year.
“We can be proud of our 2008 graduates,” said State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster. “Our college-bound students performed very well on the ACT assessment, outpacing their national peers.”
The state had 46,990 graduates in public and private schools who took the ACT at some time during high school, up 560 students from last year. That number represents 67% of the state’s high school graduates. Nationally, 1.4 million students, or 43% of 2008 graduates, took the ACT.
Wisconsin’s composite score ranks third in the nation among the 26 ACT-taking states. Minnesota had a composite score of 22.6 with 69% of its graduates tested. Iowa had a composite score of 22.4 with 60% of its graduates taking the ACT. Three states—Colorado, Illinois, and Michigan—test virtually all of their high school juniors on the ACT as part of their statewide assessment programs. Kentucky and Wyoming also moved to full statewide testing on the ACT this past spring.
On ACT subject-area tests, Wisconsin students scored 21.7 points for English, up one-tenth of a point from last year. Nationally the score on the English test was 20.6, down one-tenth of a point. In math, Wisconsin students earned a 22.3, up one-tenth of a point from last year. Nationally the math score held the same as in 2007 at 21.0. Wisconsin’s reading score was up two-tenths of a point to 22.6. The national reading score was 21.4, down one-tenth of a point from 2007. The state’s science score was 22.3, down one-tenth of a point. The national science score dropped two-tenths of a point from the previous year to 20.8.
As a measure of college readiness, ACT has established benchmark scores that predict success on credit-bearing college coursework. Students who earn an 18 or higher on the English test have a 75% chance of earning a C in college-level English. Wisconsin had 77% of its graduates earning the benchmark English score, compared to 68% nationally. For math, 54% of state students earned the benchmark score (22) compared to 43% nationally. In reading, which measures preparedness for college-level social science courses, 61% of Wisconsin graduates earned the benchmark score of 21; nationally, 53% reached the benchmark score. In science, which is geared to college-level biology, 38% of state students earned the benchmark score of 24, 10 percentage points higher than the percentage meeting the benchmark nationally.
“While Wisconsin graduates performed quite well on this national assessment, we must encourage students to take coursework that will prepare them for college and the world of work,” Burmaster said. “Achievement gaps in scores and course-taking patterns are quite apparent.”
The percentage of Wisconsin ACT-takers who were students of color increased slightly from last year to 11.7%. African American students had a composite score of 17.0, the same as last year and one-tenth of a point higher than their peers nationally. American Indian students had a composite score of 20.4 compared to the 19.0 composite score of their national peers.
Wisconsin’s Asian students had a composite score of 20.4, which like the national score for Asian students (22.9), was up three-tenths of a point from last year. Hispanic students from Wisconsin had a composite score of 19.7, one full point higher than the national composite score for Hispanic students. White students from the state had a composite score of 22.8, up one-tenth of a point from last year and seven-tenths of a point higher than white students nationally. Wisconsin students who reported they took a recommended college preparatory curriculum— four years of English and three or more years of mathematics, science, and social studies—had scores that averaged 1.7 points higher across the four subject-area tests than students who did not take a core curriculum for college preparation. Nationally, students who did not take a core curriculum had scores that averaged 2.5 points lower than their peers who took more rigorous college-preparatory coursework. In Wisconsin, 58% of graduates reported taking a core curriculum compared to 61% nationally.
“We are working with the Partnership for 21st Century Skills and the American Diploma Project to ensure that our students have high school coursework that is rigorous and relevant to college and the work place,” Burmaster said. “Our goal is to prepare our graduates to be world ready.”
Department of Public Instruction news release
Posted August 14, 2008