BATON ROUGE, La. – As members of the Class of 2009 take their places in college lecture halls over the next few weeks, more of them are prepared to succeed in their core subjects, according to the most recent report by ACT. Comparing the reading, math, English and science scores of the nearly 36,000 graduates who took the test prior to graduating in 2009, a larger percentage of students met all four ACT College Readiness Benchmark Scores, when compared to their counterparts last year – increasing from 14 to 15 percent.

The increase can likely be attributed to the state’s significant gains in another ACT indicator. The number of Louisiana students who enroll in ACT’s recommended core curriculum – at least four years of English and three years of mathematics, science and social studies – increased by an impressive five percent, from 76 percent in 2008 to 81 percent in 2009. Since 2005, the number has increased by 10 percent, from 71 percent.

Despite the progress in these measures, however, Louisiana’s average composite score declined to 20.1, from the historic high of 20.3, which was posted by the state’s Class of 2008. The 2009 national composite score remained at 21.1 – unchanged from the 2008 score.

“While it is not uncommon to see incremental ups and downs in these kinds of measures, these scores remind us that we must remain focused and push forward with a sense of urgency,” said State Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek. “At the same time, it’s reassuring to recognize that more of our students are taking the ACT test, more are enrolling in college preparation courses, and consequently more of our students are meeting college readiness benchmarks. So I would anticipate an overall upward trend in Louisiana’s ACT scores.”

In 2008, Louisiana was one of just a handful of states that saw its average composite score increase from 20.1 in 2007 to 20.3 in 2008 -- despite a decline in the national composite score. Also, the state posted notable gains in its average composite score for African American students – from 17.0 in 2007 to 17.4 in 2008. That number dipped slightly to 17.3 for 2009.

The number of Louisiana public and private school students participating in the ACT assessment increased again this year – by 1 percent. And overall, the percentage of the state’s graduates who take the national assessment has risen dramatically – from 74 percent in 2006 to 89 percent this year.

“The significant increase in the number of students taking the ACT shows an interest and intent to enter postsecondary education by our students and their parents and that is truly encouraging,” Commissioner of Higher Education Sally Clausen said. “The next step is for us to ensure those students get the preparation they need and enroll in college.  The good news is our trend data indicates that we are poised to continue improving our ACT scores in years to come, and we look forward to that continued growth.”  

Considering the large increase in students taking the test over the last few years, ACT officials said they are not surprised by the small drop in Louisiana’s composite score.

“Generally, when the testing population expands so dramatically, it’s not unusual for scores to go down, because it is likely that a more academically diverse group of students is being tested,” said Ed Colby, spokesman for ACT. “The fact that Louisiana’s overall trend is positive is encouraging.”

The ACT assessment tool is administered to high school students in all fifty states and is utilized by most Louisiana colleges and universities to determine eligibility for admissions and scholarships, as well as placement in college courses. ACT data also illustrate how well students are prepared for college. ACT reports college readiness benchmark scores— the minimum score needed to indicate a 50 percent change of obtaining a B or higher, or about a 75 percent chance of obtaining a C or higher in the corresponding credit-bearing college courses, which include English Composition, algebra, social science and biology.

Sixty-seven percent of Louisiana students met the benchmark score of 18 in English, which is on par with the national average. In math, 30 percent of students met the benchmark score of 22, while 42 percent of students across the nation met the benchmark. Forty-four percent of Louisiana students met the benchmark score of 21 in reading, compared to 53 percent of students nationally who met the benchmark. Twenty percent of Louisiana students met the benchmark score of 24 in science, compared to 28 percent of students nationally who met the benchmark.

Overall, Louisiana ranked 43rd in the performance of test-takers in 2009, but outpaced the national average in three race/ethnicity measurements. The average ACT composite score for African-Americans in Louisiana is 17.3, compared to the national average of 16.9; the average score for American Indian students in the state is 19.4, compared to 18.9 nationally, while the average score for Hispanic students in Louisiana is 20.3, which significantly outpaces the national average of 18.7.

The composite score is a compilation of the scores students receive on the English, math, reading and science portions of the standardized exam. The highest score that can be earned on the test is 36.

Sixty-nine percent of Louisiana students earned an ACT score of 18 on the English portion of the exam, while 59 percent earned an ACT score of 18 on the math portion of the exam, according to the national report. The improvements represent a two-percentage point increase in both subjects. This is important, because students who score below an 18 in either subject usually have to take remedial courses once they enter college. ACT research indicates the cost of remediating a student in a single subject area is about $1,800 per student; this amount translates into a savings of over $24 million from 2003 to 2008.

In its effort to ensure student success for life after high school, Louisiana is collaborating with other states through its participation in the national College- and Career-Ready Policy Institute and the Partnership for 21st Century Skills. And the state is among the 49 states who recently agreed to participate in the country’s Common Core State Standards Initiative. Each of these joint efforts allows Louisiana to work with other states to develop and align its standards with national benchmarks that prepare students for the workforce and college.

Districts with the highest ACT composite averages are St. Tammany (21.6) and West Feliciana (21.2). Both districts’ scores are higher than the national average of 21.1. Districts showing the biggest gains in their 2009 composite scores are Red River (1.8 point gain), Madison Parish (1.4 point gain) and St. James Parish (0.9 gain).

The ACT exam may be taken by students in their sophomore, junior or senior years. The information reported by ACT reflects the performance of Louisiana students, who at the time of testing reported they were scheduled to graduate in 2009.

Students are more likely to score higher on the ACT if the test is taken more than once, according to data given from ACT. In Louisiana, Caucasian students are more likely to test more than once, while African-American students are more likely to wait until their senior year to take the exam.

In Louisiana, about 30 percent of Caucasian students and 38 percent of African-American students tested only once, compared to the 70 percent of Caucasian and 62 percent of African-American students who tested more than once. Fifty-eight percent of white and 76 percent of black students took their first and only test as seniors. For Caucasian students who tested at least twice, 61 percent tested in their junior year and increased their scores by 1 point, and for African-American students who tested at least twice, 57 percent tested in their junior year and increased their score by 1 point. Both groups also scored higher than 11th graders who tested only once.

Other findings from the national report include:

• 35,742 graduates from Louisiana’s 2009 graduating class took the ACT test.
• Louisiana’s African-American students earned an average of 16.9 on the English portion of the exam, which outpaces the nation’s average of 16.
• Hispanic students outpaced the national average in math, with Louisiana students earning an average score of 19.9, compared to 19.1 nationally.
• American Indian students in Louisiana outpaced the national average in reading, earning a score of 19.6, compared to 19.4 nationally.
• African-American students earned an average score of 17.6 in science, which is above the nation’s average of 17.2 in that subject.
• American Indians earned an average of 19.5 in science, which is above the national average of 19.1.
• Hispanic students earned an average of 20.1 in science, which is significantly above the national average of 18.8.
• Louisiana’s African-American students earned an average of 17.1 in math, which kept pace with the national average.
• American Indian students in Louisiana earned an average of 18.7 in math, which is on pace with the national average.
• African-American students earned an average score of 16.9 in reading, which is the same as the national average.

Five Years of ACT Results 2005-2009 PDF | XLS

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