ACT Aspire scores improve, average ACT score dips slightly

The average composite score among the 31,227 Arkansas 11th-grade students taking the ACT test in 2017-18 was 18.7, down slightly from 18.8 in the previous year, according to the Arkansas Department of Education. The highest possible score on the test – a standardized college admissions test first introduced in the U.S. in 1959 – is 36

Also, scores on the ACT Aspire test were released and showed gains in most grades. The test is a variant of the ACT and is used to measure learning progress in grades 3 through 10 based on four benchmarks: reading, English, math and science. According to ADE, 14% of students met all four readiness benchmarks, unchanged from 2016-2017.

2018 results mark the third statewide testing in grades 3 through 10. The percent of students at or above ready in English remained steady or trended upward in all grades except for grades 6, 9 and 10. Reading results at or above ready trended upward in all grades except for grades 6, 9 and 10. Overall writing scores were not reported; however, writing scores were incorporated in the overall English Language Arts scores.

Arkansas’ percent of students at or above ready in math trended upward in grades 3 and 8 through 10 and downward in grades 4 through 7. Science scores at or above ready remained steady or trended upward in grades 3, 8 and 9 and downward in grades 4 through 7 and grade 10.

Average English Language Arts (ELS) scores for grades 3 through 10 exhibited an increasing trend with the exception of grade 5, which declined slightly from 2017. Average STEM scale scores for grades 3 through 7 vary, with some grades demonstrating little change and some grades demonstrating decreases.

“The increase in overall growth reflects the hard work and dedication of Arkansas’ students and teachers,” Arkansas Department of Education Commissioner Johnny Key said. “The results reflect educators’ commitment to teaching strong, rigorous education standards and the positive effects of the R.I.S.E. Arkansas and Computer Science initiatives. The results show we still have work to do to improve education in Arkansas, but I am confident that as we move toward implementation of Arkansas’ Every Student Succeeds Act plan this fall, we will lead the nation in student-focused education.”

More info on the test scores and other school district information can be found at this link.