CLINTON —
The average ACT score for Clinton High School students has remained the same as last year, but the number taking the test is up from two years ago, Clinton School District Curriculum Director John Jorgensen reports.
In Iowa, the average ACT score for 2012 was 22.1, the second highest among the nation for states where more than 50 percent of high-school graduates take the exam. The national composite average was 21.1.
Clinton High School students who took the test scored an average 19.1, the same score from 2011.
“Last year we had about 80 percent of kids taking the test,” Jorgensen said of the 2012 figures.
In the previous year, 85 percent of students took the test. Before the district began striving for a higher percentage of test-takers, only 45 to 50 percent took the test. The district saw its highest composite average, 21.7, in 2010.
The Clinton schools have made a conscious effort to test more of their students, a move Gov. Terry Branstad and Iowa Department of Education Director Jason Glass are pushing statewide.
“What happens is on test day we rent a room out and have tables set up and when juniors get to school we put them on a bus,” Jorgensen said.
The students are taken to a room at Wild Rose where they take the rigorous test.”
“The reason we do that is, we really feel strongly about students being college and career ready,” Superintendent Deb Olson said. “We still face the paradigm that less than 15 percent of our population in Clinton County has a college degree.”
Jorgensen said he knew the average score would go down once a greater percentage of students were taking the test based on students’ varying educational and career goals. Ultimately, no matter a student’s goals after high school, the intent of the district is to prepare them enough to make remedial courses after high school unnecessary.
“The goal is to step out of a high school classroom and into a college classroom and be successful without skipping a beat. Or, step out of a high school class room and into a trade occupation and be successful,” Jorgensen said.
He added the Clinton School District is about two years behind reaching this goal. The district is, however, ahead of the curve in terms of the percentage of students that take the ACT.
Jorgensen touted the Clinton School District as being “ahead of the game” on ACT testing in the state, with plans to continue testing a large percentage of students, no matter their academic goals.
“We’re one of only two districts, I believe, that tries to test all of our students,” he said.
In response to the release of ACT average scores last week, Glass called on schools to test more of their students, as Clinton High School has done.
“I’m proud that Iowa’s average composite score is tied for second in the country among states that tested more than half of students in the Class of 2012; however, we’re still testing only 63 percent of students. If our goal is to have a world-class education system, we must set the right expectations for college and career readiness and then follow through with an exam as an important measure,” Glass said.
Schools
August 28, 2012
Clinton’s ACT scores stable
Number of Clinton High students who take test is growing
- Schools
-
-
Goose Lake woman teaches in South Korea
A Goose Lake woman will be heading home soon after teaching in South Korea since June 2012.
-
Students prep for prom
Area students will trade the typical jeans and T-shirt this weekend for something a little more formal.
-
Easton Valley responds to lawsuit
In response to the lawsuit filed against it, the Easton Valley School District claims in court documents that the Northeast School District and East Central School District illegally attempted to bind its future actions when they entered into a whole-grade sharing agreement.
-
Going for the grade: CHS, Prince of Peace lauded for students taking AP exams
CLINTON — Clinton High School and Prince of Peace have been recognized as two of the top 25 schools in Iowa for the number of students taking Advanced Placement exams.
- Sophomore coach is reinstated FULTON, Ill. -- It took 4 1/2 hours in closed session, but Jeff Hoese eventually earned reinstatement to two positions within the River Bend School District. River Bend School Board members deliberated from 6:30 to 11 p.m. Monday regarding personnel
- District to study altering school year CLINTON -- Clinton School District students could arrive for their first day of school in 2015 to find shorter breaks spread more evenly throughout the school year. The Clinton School Board agreed during its meeting Monday to form an ad-hoc committ
- Keeping watch: School district leaders hear safety report CLINTON -- The Clinton School Board on Monday learned what the district does to provide a safe environment for all students, staff and community members. Bluff Elementary School principal Mark Bloom, school resource officer Matt Lorenzen and Clinto
- Clinton aims for 100% ACT participation rate CLINTON — Standardized tests make Sara Nickles uneasy, but the Clinton High School junior plans to go into elementary education. Meaning like it or not, standardized tests — such as the ACT — won't disappear from her list of things to do anytime soon
- New school district sends letter to East Central in preparation for next year PRESTON -- The Easton Valley School Board agreed to send a letter to the East Central School Board and superintendent asking for permission to enter the Miles and Sabula School buildings on or before June 1. In order to prepare for the inaugural sch
- Easton Valley approves budget PRESTON -- The Easton Valley School Board on Thursday night approved an $8.2 million budget that includes a tax levy that is lower than the rates at the two merging districts. Because the Iowa Legislature has yet to set allowable growth -- the sta
- More Schools Headlines
-
