Montgomery, Ala. - Eleven Alabama public high school students scored a perfect 36 on the ACT, according to ACT’s annual Condition of College and Career Readiness Report for the 2011 high school graduating class.
College and career readiness continues to increase among ACT-tested high school graduates nationally. In Alabama, more public high school students—32,179—took the ACT and more 2011 graduating seniors are ready for college course work. Increasing numbers of Alabama students are taking the ACT, which is designed to assess academic achievement and college readiness in the subject areas of English, math, reading and science.
Alabama’s Five-Year Trends |
Year |
# Students Tested |
2007 |
28,006 |
2008 |
29,219 |
2009 |
29,894 |
2010 |
30,949 |
2011 |
32,179 |
“We continue to see consistent, steady progress in our students’ ACT participation and scores,” said Dr. Joe Morton, State Superintendent of Education. “In some cases, our scores surpass the national average. The fact that more and more students are taking the ACT indicates that a two and/or four-year college education is a priority for many Alabama students—a very encouraging sign for their future as well as for the future of our state.”
ACT defines college and career readiness as the knowledge and skills needed to be successful. ACT College Readiness Benchmarks specify the minimum scores needed on each ACT subject-area test (English, math, reading and science) to indicate that a student has a 50 percent chance of earning a grade of B or higher in a typical credit-bearing first-year college course in that subject area (English composition, college algebra, introductory social science and biology).
The 2011 ACT report shows:
· Alabama’s average ACT Composite Score is 20.1, compared to the national average of 21.1.
· 81 percent of Alabama graduates took the ACT, compared to half—49 percent—nationally.
· 18 percent of Alabama’s ACT-tested 2011 high school graduates met or surpassed all four of ACT’s College Readiness Benchmarks (English, math, reading, and science).
· 65 percent met or surpassed the English benchmark.
· 32 percent met or surpassed the math benchmark.
· 48 percent met or surpassed the reading benchmark.
· 22 percent met or surpassed the science benchmark.
EXPLORE, ACT’s 8th grade assessment program, indicates 60 percent of Alabama 8th graders are on track to meet the ACT College Readiness Benchmarks. EXPLORE is designed to help 8th and 9th graders explore a broad range of options for their future
“All of our 8th graders took EXPLORE for the first time in the 2010-2011 school year,” said Dr. Tommy Bice, Deputy State Superintendent. “EXPLORE gives educators another tool to improve instruction and achievement for each student, and prepares students for their high school coursework as well as their post-high school choices.”
This year’s pool of ACT-tested graduates is the largest and most racially diverse in the 52-year history of the exam. More than 1.62 million 2011 graduates took the ACT. The proportion of African American and Hispanic/Latino test-takers has grown from 19 percent in 2007 to 26 percent in 2011. Alabama’s minority students exceeded the national average scores.
Average ACT Scores by Race/Ethnicity |
Alabama |
National |
Caucasian |
21.6 |
22.4 |
African-American |
17.2 |
17 |
American Indian/Alaskan Native |
20.5 |
18.6 |
Hispanic/Latino |
19.7 |
18.7 |
Asian |
23.4 |
23.6 |
Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander |
19.2 |
19.5 |
Composite Score |
20.1 |
21.1 |
The top five planned college majors chosen by Alabama ACT takers are:
1. Health Sciences & Technologies
2. Business
3. Education
4. Engineering tied with Social Sciences & Law
5. Visual & Performing Arts tied with Biological & Physical Sciences
The top five colleges chosen by Alabama ACT takers are:
1. The University of Alabama
2. Auburn University
3. The University of Alabama Birmingham
4. Troy University
5. University of South Alabama
Visit www.act.org/readiness/2011 to view complete national and state-specific information. You may also contact ACT Media Relations at 319-337-1028. However, ACT does not release local district or school data. Contact district and school offices for local information.
Alabama College and Career Readiness Workshops for ACT Preparation are being offered throughout Alabama in September and October. Visit http://act.org/ccrw/register.html for dates and locations.
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