The Class of 2011 ACT scores are in. This year, MHS’s average dropped from 24.5 to 24.2.

“While the average did drop, the number is still well above the national average,” Principal Dr. Greg Mathison said. “That being said, a .3 decrease is still a fair amount.”

Mathison said he’s looking at data from Central Services to get a breakdown on the numbers to see why the average changed.

“The ACT is America’s most widely accepted college entrance exam,” Mary Haar, ACT test prep coordinator, said. “It assesses high school students’ general educational development and their ability to complete college-level work.”

The ACT is comprised of four tests: reading, English, science and math. An optional writing portion is also available.

The ACT also analyzes test results to predict how students will do in college courses for four academic areas – algebra, biology, social sciences and English – which they call benchmarks. According to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), 42 percent of students made three of the four benchmarks while 23 percent made none.

“These sobering statistics point to the need for significant improvement in readying the state’s students for college and careers,” Sharon Hoge, assistant commissioner for the Missouri DESE, said.  “We must expect more at all grade levels, especially in math and science.”

Teachers and administrators have implemented several tactics to improve scores in general.

“MHS encourages students to take a rigorous high school curriculum and to take advantage of the ACT Prep Course and resources offered at MHS,” Haar said.

Last year, more than 180 students took advantage of the ACT prep class.

“The prep course helps students reduce test anxiety and gives students a better understanding of the ACT test,” Haar said. “Test-taking strategies and techniques are introduced to help students maximize their test scores.”

In addition to the prep class, questions run on the daily announcements for students to practice. Also, the Renaissance program offers practice ACT tests to students.

“We want to prepare students by supporting them and coming up with creative tools for improvement with the community,” Freshman Principal Dr. Jennifer Sebold said.

Dr. Sebold also said following up with and meeting with teachers helps students in general.

More specifically, the departments are also working to improve scores.

“The science part of the ACT does not really test a student’s knowledge of specific science content areas, rather how well a student can interpret data, analyze scientific readings, and make predictions based on information that is supplied on the test,” Science Department Chair Kathryn Britt said.

The science department teaches data analysis and graphing questions to prepare students in every science class.

“I think the biggest challenge for our students is how little time they are given for this very challenging part of the ACT, so in AP Biology, for instance, we set enforced time limits on our unit tests to encourage students to work efficiently on the exam,” Britt said.
Last spring the district began requiring all juniors to take the ACT. This year’s all-junior ACT test is scheduled for Tuesday, April 24.

Dr. Sebold said while requiring students to take the ACT may ultimately decrease the school average, the information gained is important.

“Its great experience for the students,” Dr. Sebold said. “It lets the students see holes in their knowledge and what skills they need to enhance to improve if they decide to take it again.”

Dr. Sebold said requiring the Junior Class to take the test also helps the administration.

“For the district, [ACT results] give us longitudinal data,” Dr. Sebold said. “We see how the curriculum compares with the students’ results with the Explore, PLAN and ACT tests that are administrated.”

Students are also encouraged to take ACT more than once. According to the ACT, 57 percent students increase their composite scores.

“The ACT is comprehensive,” Dr. Sebold said. “This gives students the opportunity to see what they know for whatever their future might be.”