Students Need to be College Ready
ACT Benchmarks Show the Way
by Carlene Kaiser
More is better when it comes to taking upper level courses in high school. Students typically take the minimum requirement of courses for graduation, however according to recent research conducted by the American College Testing (ACT) Organization, students benefit from taking more courses in math, science. English and social studies.
The following represent the percentage of students who are ready for college work. The data is derived from the 66 students who took the test last year.
18 percent of 2007 graduates from Marysville met all four ACT Bench Mark College Readiness Scores (The benchmark scores are: English Compositiion, 18, Algebra, 22, Social Sciences, 21, and Biology, 24.
Marysville students had 64 percent score at the English benchmark of 18 (state level had 75 percent of students scoring at this benchmark. In College Algebra, some 35 percent of our students met the benchmark College Readiness score of 22 compared to 48 percent at the state level. In the College Social Sciences 55 percent of our students scored at the benchmark level of 21(compared to 59 at the state level). In College Biology, 26 percent met the 24 College Readiness score compared to 32 percent at the state level.
The benchmark score is the minimum score needed on an ACT subject-area test to indicate a 50 percent chance of obtaining a B or higher or about a 75 percent of obtaining a C or higher in the corresponding credit bearing college course.
What can parents and teachers do to increase our college readiness?
- Make sure students are taking the right kind of courses- taking more than the required courses for graduation- particularly in math and science.
- Make sure students ready for Algebra prior to 9th grade
- Check the College-Readiness standards with student ACT sub scores.
- Check out the following website for additional information:
- Make sure students are taking a rigorous curriculum
- Make sure students take advantage of school counselors who aim to engage all student in early college and career awareness
- Work with counselors with ACT assessments such as EXPLORE, PLAN and the ACT to monitor your child’s adequate progress.
