Kentucky’s recent public school graduates have improved the state's performance on the ACT college entrance exam, but it continues to trail nationally.
The Kentucky Department of Education released results Wednesday showing improved scores for public school graduates in the four subjects tested by the ACT.The state's results also showed gains in scores for most ethnic and gender student groups in composite scores, including African-American and Hispanic graduates. Kentucky Education Commissioner Terry Holliday attributes the growth in the state’s 2009 education reforms.Kentucky is one of a dozen states that require all students to take the ACT test to graduate. Among that group, Kentucky’s graduates tested better than four.The results also show that more graduates have met college-ready benchmarks set by Kentucky’s Council on Postsecondary Education than the previous year.In the news release, King said the data indicates that students who enter college prepared graduate at twice the rate of students who enter unprepared.The ACT released similar data Wednesday including public and private school students, showing higher overall scores for the state. The state's annual release of test results from high school juniors, who are required to take the ACT, will be later this year along with the full accountability report, according to the news release.
