Rise in Hispanics’ ACT scores beats state, national increases

Hispanic students in the state’s 2005 graduating class on average scored 19.5 out of 36, which is just under the state average of 20.5 and the national average of 20.9.

However, while Hispanic average scores have jumped 0.9 in the past five years, the state gained 0.5 and the national average actually lost ground. The average scores for Hispanic test takers nationwide also dropped, from 18.8 in 2001 to 18.6 this year.

“It shows that we’re smart,” said Harold Villalobos, 19, a graduate from Nashville’s Antioch High who scored a 22 out of 36 on the ACT. “It’s great. It’s awesome, and it shows that we, as a race, are coming up.”

Hispanic students’ scores are gaining more ground than any other ethnic group in the state, except Asian students.

Around 44,000 students in the state’s Class of 2005 took the exam and 732, or almost 2 percent, were Hispanic.

“You have pride to take in this graduating class,” said Jim White, a director with ACT’s East Region office, located in Atlanta. “There is a change occurring in the classroom.”

State education officials said they’re pleased with the increasing scores, but there’s still work to be done. Their goal is to close the achievement gap between different groups of students because Hispanic students still lag behind every group except black students.

Carol Irwin, the ESL coordinator for the state Department of Education, said higher-quality English as a Second Language programs and more educators trained specifically to help these students may be one reason the scores are going up.

Maria Clara Mejia, director of socio-cultural and civic integration for Conecion Americas, a large organization that helps Hispanics in the Nashville area, said students also often get a push from parents and their extended family members.