ACT Scores Rise in Some SREB States; 10-Year Trend Is Up, Including Scores for Minorities

Scores rose from 2006 to 2007 in four of the nine SREB states where more than 50 percent of high school graduates take the ACT: Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi and Oklahoma. Scores held at the same level in three ACT-dominant SREB states: Louisiana, Tennessee and West Virginia.

Most ACT-dominant SREB states are seeing scores remain the same or rise even while record numbers of students are taking college admission tests in most states in the region — a significant accomplishment. Average scores for black and Hispanic students also are up over the past decade, although scores for those students in 2007 were flat or down slightly compared with 2006 in the majority of SREB states.

"More students across the region take college admission tests than ever before, and record numbers are enrolling in college — which are promising signs," said SREB President Dave Spence. "States need to work harder to help students raise their scores and be ready for college and career preparation."

Three SREB states increased the number of high school graduates who take the ACT while also showing higher scores on the test: Alabama, Kentucky and Mississippi. The national average composite ACT score was 21.2 in 2007, up from 21.1 in 2006.

College- and career-readiness remain a major concern for the region. ACT estimated that only 17 percent of students who took the test in SREB states are ready for college course work in all four major subject areas: English, math, reading and science. In these subjects, students’ readiness especially lagged in biology and algebra, according to ACT. SREB continues to work with states to develop clear college- and career-readiness standards and to adjust high school tests and curriculum to help high school students meet higher standards and complete college degrees and career certificates.

In eight of the 16 SREB member states, higher percentages of students take the SAT than take the ACT. But many students across the region take both tests. SAT results will be announced later this month.

SREB's Challenge to Lead Goals for Education call for more students to take college admission tests, to score higher on these tests and for SREB states to reduce gaps in test scores among all groups of students.

A recent SREB report, Improving ACT and SAT Scores: Making Progress, Facing Challenges, looks at the factors that drive states’ college admission test scores, analyzes recent test results and makes recommendations for improvement.

College admission test scores in SREB states generally improved from 1997 to 2006, but not enough for any SREB state where students predominantly take the ACT to beat the national average. Virginia was the only SREB state with an average score that topped the national average in 2006 for its dominant test, the SAT.

Closing performance gaps among all groups of students also remains an issue for both the nation and the region, the report says. Scores for black and Hispanic students in most SREB states generally remained at similar levels from 2006 to 2007 — but rose in a majority of SREB states over a 10-year period ending in 2005.

From 1995 to 2005, six ACT-dominant states had average scores that kept pace or narrowed the gap between state and national averages: Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and West Virginia. Two ACT-dominant states in the region — Alabama and Mississippi — and one SAT state — Florida — increased the percentage of high school seniors tested by at least 10 percentage points from 1997 to 2006, the SREB report shows.

All three groups of students — black, Hispanic and white students — improved their average composite scores on the dominant tests in seven SREB states over the 10-year period: Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.

The SREB report on ACT and SAT scores, Improving ACT and SAT Scores: Making Progress, Facing Challenges, is available at www.sreb.org. For more information about college admission test scores in your state, contact SREB Communications.

SREB, a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization based in Atlanta, Georgia, advises state education leaders on ways to improve education. SREB was created in 1948 by Southern governors and legislatures to help leaders in education and government work cooperatively to advance education and improve the social and economic life of the region. SREB has 16 member states: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia. Each is represented by its governor and four gubernatorial appointees.