More Black and Hispanic high school graduates are taking the ACT, but they continue to post the lowest composite score averages, according to the ACT College Readiness Report released Wednesday.
Since 2003, Black participation in ACT has grown 18 percent, while the number of Hispanic test-takers has increased 23 percentage points. Overall growth in the number of high school graduates taking the college admission and placement exam was 11 percent.
A record 1.3 million graduating seniors took the test this year, earning an average composite score of 21.2 up from 21.1 last year, on a scale of 36. Scores improved in all four subject areas — English, math, science and reading.
The 2007 average composite score rose for the third time in the past five years. Nearly all racial/ethnic groups have seen a rise in scores since 2003. This year, all groups — except Blacks whose scores dipped 0.1 from the previous year — reported an increase in scores.
Black students earned a national average composite score of 17 and Hispanic students 18.7. Asian American students again earned the highest average at 22.6 followed by Whites at 22.1 and American Indian/Alaska Native students at 18.9.
ACT officials are optimistic about closing the gap between Black and Hispanic students and their higher-scoring peers. Recent scores of those who took EXPLORE and PLAN, precursor exams to the ACT designed to help 8th- and 10th-grade students prepare for the ACT, “point to likely improvement in college readiness among racial/ethnic minority students in the future.”
Higher percentages of Black and American Indian 8th-graders who took 2007 EXPLORE are on pace to becoming college ready in all four subject areas than were in 2003. Similarly, more Hispanic 10th-grade students this year than in 2003 posted scores indicating they were well on their way to becoming college-ready.
