By Vicky Wedig
EDITOR
All but four area high schools scored above the state average on the 2013-14 ACT test, according to results released Aug. 20.
Elkhorn, Union Grove, Palmyra-Eagle and Delavan-Darien high schools showed average composite scores on the test that were below the state average of 22.1 out of a possible score of 36.
The results are for 2014 graduates who took the test during high school, most their junior year.
The highest composite score of area schools was in Williams Bay where students scored 26.1 on average. The composite score is a compilation of results in English, math, reading, science and writing. The lowest composite score was in Delavan-Darien where students scored 19.9 on average.
“I was very surprised by that. I don’t know what happened, if it was a bad testing day or what,” said Superintendent Robert Crist. “I don’t have any answer to that. Obviously, I’m very disappointed with it.”
It is the lowest average composite score and the furthest below state average the school has had in at least the past five years. Last year’s ACT composite score at D-DHS was above the state average,
While D-DHS’ average score was down, its participate rate was up. Of this year’s graduates, 57.1 percent took the test compared with 52.7 percent of last year’s grads.
For the last time this year, the participation rate of graduating seniors will come into play. The percentage of 2014 graduates who took the test as juniors ranged from a high of 76.9 percent in Muskego-Norway to a low of 45.8 percent in Whitewater.
Beginning this school year, all juniors will take the ACT test, which will replace the Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Examination as the required state test, said Crist.
A fee will no longer be charged for the test, and all juniors’ scores will be compiled.
“I’m going to find this really interesting across the state on what these results will be,” Crist said.
Crist said all juniors at Delavan-Darien High School are encouraged to take the test, which is a good learning experience for students and their parents.
“Our goal is to have everybody when they graduate from 12th grade to be as prepared as they possibly can to do whatever they want to do,” he said.
A student’s result on the ACT test can help him or her determine a future path whether it be college, technical school, the military or a trade, Crist said.
A good score on the ACT typically is 24 to 36, he said.
“Very few people get in the 30 category, but those who do can do pretty much whatever they want to do as far as college,” he said.
Students who score 24 and above will be admitted to most colleges, and students who score in the low 20s can still attend college but won’t have as vast a selection of schools to choose from, Crist said.
Students who score below 20 might not have the ability that college admissions people are looking for, he said. In those cases, it’s time for students to do some soul-searching, assess their strengths and find technical college programs that will facilitate a career that uses those abilities, he said.
“We want more kids to take the test,” Crist said. “I’ve always encouraged people to take the ACT so they can realize where they are as a junior so they can shore up their academics or start planning for something different than college.”
School that are trying to outperform other districts on their composite scores might encourage only college-bound juniors to take the test, but Crist said that is not the purpose of the exam for students.
“It’s about trying to help them prepare for their future,” he said. “The best we can do for kids is to help them understand their capabilities.”
