Tennessee ACT score increases, still below national average
NASHVILLE — Tennessee’s composite ACT score increased slightly from last year and more students appear interested in college, but education officials would like to see more improvement.
National scores released Wednesday show Tennessee rose a tenth of a point to 20.5, compared with 20.4 in 2003. And 87 percent of graduating seniors across the state were tested this year, compared with 74 percent last year, which one ACT spokesman said is a good sign.
“It’s among the higher percentages in the country,” Ed Colby said of the number of Tennessee graduates taking the test. “It suggests you have a lot of students thinking of going to college.”
The ACT assessment is taken by self-selected students and comprises four curriculum-based achievement tests. The tests assess critical reasoning and higher-order thinking skills in English, mathematics, reading and science, to see how prepared students are for college. The top score possible is 36.
Kim Karesh, spokeswoman for the state Department of Education, said the best way to assess the readiness of students is for them to take the ACT, which is why she’s glad to see Tennessee’s high percentage.
“A greater participation gives us a more valid look at how our students are actually doing,” she said.
While state education officials say they’re pleased with the improvement and college interest, they’d like to see better scores in certain areas of the test and eventually top this year’s national average of 20.9. The national score also increased a tenth of a point this year.
“I think it’s very positive that it’s gone up and I’d like to see it continue,” said Charles Manning, chancellor of the Tennessee Board of Regents, which runs six state universities, 13 community colleges and 26 technology centers with a combined 184,000 students.
“But we still have a significant problem, and that’s with math and science. We really need to work on that.”
The state’s math and science scores this year also increased a tenth of a point to 19.7 and 20.3, respectively. But they still trail national scores of 20.7 and 20.9.
ACT spokesman Ken Gullett said even though Tennessee is below the national average, the fact that its score increased from last year is “always encouraging.”
“Tennessee has done a lot of good things over the years, and it’s a reflection in the score this year,” he said.
One way to improve scores, Gullett said, is to persuade students to take challenging college prep courses. For instance, he said students shouldn’t stop at algebra 1 and algebra 2, but also take trigonometry and geometry and in science, chemistry and physics.
“Students who take high school seriously are prepared for college,” he said. “A lot of students who say they’re going to college and taking the ACT aren’t preparing for college. They are taking the easy way out of high school.”
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