State Report, Release of Class of 2017 ACT Scores to Enhance Continued Efforts in Aiken County to Ensure College & Career Readiness of All Graduates
School districts across South Carolina received assessment data for their second full cohort of all graduates tested on the ACT through the organization’s Thursday release of the national ACT Condition of College and Career Readiness Report. The Class of 2017 marks the second year of full statewide administration of the ACT to all students in their third year of high school.
“South Carolina is committed to ensuring that each graduate leaves us with a diploma and a documented plan for their future success through college admittance, the workforce or military service,” commented Aiken’s Superintendent Dr. Sean Alford. “We are proud to be among the sixteen states administering a college entrance exam and a work-ready assessment to all students rather than only a self-selected population of college bound students as is the practice in the majority of states.”
Today’s release of data summarizes the results of the 2017 graduating class. For the first time since testing all students, we are able to compare the final ACT scores of all graduates year over year.
Aiken County’s recent graduates outperformed the previous year’s graduating class with an overall composite score of 18.4, up one-tenth of a point over last year. Aiken’s overall composite score, averaging English, Math, Reading and Science, mirrors that of South Carolina as a whole.
Additionally, the Class of 2017 increased scores in three out of four of the major content areas including Math (18.6 over 18.5), Science (18.8 over 18.6) and Reading (18.8 over 18.7).
Three of Aiken’s high schools, Wagener-Salley, Aiken and North Augusta, achieved increases in all four content areas, with strong gains correlating to elevated composite scores. Wagener-Salley showed the greatest gains, with a nearly two-point increase in their composite score from 15.6 to 17.3.
“Our continued focus on literacy is evident in the Class of 2017’s scores,” stated Ute Aadland, Wagener-Salley High School’s Principal on the school’s nearly three point increase in Reading (15.6 to 18.5) and over two-point increase in English (13.4 to 15.6). “This is encouraging news for our dedicated teachers and hard-working students here at Wagener-Salley High School.”
In addition to English, Math and Reading, both Aiken and North Augusta high schools experienced their largest improvements in the Science, with Aiken gaining a full point (from 18 to 19) and North Augusta nearing a one-point gain with an increase from 18.4 to 19.3.
South Aiken High School’s graduating seniors posted the highest overall composite score in the District at 19.6. Three District high schools outperformed the state average (composite score) of 18.4, including South Aiken High School (19.6), North Augusta High (18.8), and Aiken High (18.5).
In addition to composite scores, ACT reports separate College Readiness Benchmark scores as an indicator of college readiness. The benchmark score reflects the minimum score needed on an ACT subject-area test that statistically indicates the student has a 50% chance of obtaining a B or higher or a 75% chance of obtaining a C or higher in corresponding credit-bearing college courses, which include English Composition, Algebra, Social Science, Biology and STEM.
The percentage of students attaining the benchmarks in Aiken County increased in four out of five areas including math, reading, science and STEM. The most significant increases were in science, which grew by a full three percentage points outperforming the growth in the state, while those meeting math and STEM benchmarks increased a full point while the state remained percentage remained unchanged since last year.
“We’re encouraged that our continued focus on STEM disciplines is being reflected in student assessment data,” Chief Officer of Instruction Dr. DeeDee Washington commented. “We’re pleased to see increases in those areas and even more so to have concrete data points to chart adjustments in curriculum and additional focus areas.”
Based on the test score results, ACT also calculates an indicator of career readiness based on ACT composite scores associated with a 50% chance of earning a National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) Aiken County’s 2017 graduates showed increased progress toward Career Readiness Indicators. According to ACT, fewer than 30% of graduates were likely, based on their ACT composite score, to attain an ACT WorkKeys® National Career Readiness Certificate® (NCRC®) at the gold level or higher. For Aiken County’s Class of 2017, the number of graduates achieving ACT scores comparable to gold-level certification is 49.1%, far exceeding students nationally. The Gold certificate level represents the foundational work readiness skills needed for 93 percent of the jobs recently profiled in the ACT JobPro® database.
“By testing all high school students’ aptitude for both college and career-readiness, we’re systemically increasing opportunities for students to explore their post-secondary potential,” commented Gina Bassford, Coordinator of Counseling and Career Services.
An impressive 90.6% of Class of 2017 graduates were accepted to a two- or four-year college or university, up from 79.6% for the Class of 2016 and 51.8% for the Class of 2015.
“Although there are a multitude of efforts that have commenced to introduce students to increased post-secondary options, including enhanced partnerships with local colleges and universities and the launch of the AIKEN WORKS initiative, the District-wide administration of the ACT has absolutely been a contributing factor in allowing students greater opportunity to continue their education after high school.”
###
ACPSD Communications