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3 OF 4 DISTRICTS SEE HIGHER ACT SCORES, AP RESULTS VARIED

By Amy Riggin/SPECIAL TO THE COMMERCIAL
Saturday, September 19, 2009 8:57 PM CDT

Students in three of four school districts in Jefferson County scored higher on the ACT college entrance exam administered last school year.

The Pine Bluff School District was the only one whose average composite score in English, math, reading and science declined, while White Hall students’ average outpaced the state and was in line with the national average.

The highest possible score on the ACT is 36. The state average was 20.6, the same as last year, and the national average remained the same as well at 21.1

Pine Bluff’s composite dropped from 18.1 in 2008 (179 students tested) to 17.7 (156 tested).

Mary Morgan, assistant superintendent for secondary curriculum, said the district has offered CPEP (a college preparatory enrichment program) to students every summer for more than a decade. The free program focuses on ACT test-taking skills and allows students to take the exam free of charge.

“It’s supposed to be for students who have taken the test already and didn’t score a 19 but we just opened it up to all our students, even those who haven’t taken it,” Morgan said.

Students must score at least a 19 in math and English to avoid mandatory remedial classes in college.

‘Not satisfied’

Despite the program’s availability, only about 40 students participated in the summer.

“We would take as many as we can get,” Morgan said. “We just can’t get them to turn out for it.”

Morgan noted that next year’s scores could be lower still, as the district was one of more than 60 selected by the Arkansas Department of Education to test all juniors through the Voluntary Universal ACT Assessment program in the spring.

“That’s something we’ve not been able to pay for as a district,” Morgan said.

At Dollarway, the number of students tested was unchanged at 75, but the composite score rose from 15.4 to 16.3. It was the highest point gain of the four county districts.

Despite the gain, Dr. Arthur Tucker, superintendent, said he is “not satisfied” and would work with teachers to help raise scores.

Watson Chapel’s 142 students tested had a composite score of 19, up from 18.4 last year (170 tested).

“I am proud of them,” said Brenda Melton, assistant superintendent for instruction.

Melton noted that Watson Chapel also offers ACT preparation courses. There again, not everyone takes advantage of the courses — or even takes the test.

“It’s required for college entrance but it’s optional,” she said.

The 159 students at White Hall scored a composite of 21.1, up from 20.4 in 2008 (129 tested).

Advanced Placement

Advanced Placement courses are courses with curricula approved by the College Board and taught by specially trained teachers. As part of education reform effort in 2003, Arkansas policy makers enacted laws to increase access to Advanced Placement for public school students. These included passing legislation that require all high schools to offer at least one Advanced Placement course in each of the four core subjects — math, English, social studies and science — and for the state to pay the fee for any public school student taking Advanced Placement exams.

In Pine Bluff, six percent of tests administered resulted in passing scores in 2009, up from 3 percent in 2008. Students must score a 3, 4 or 5 to receive a passing grade on a 5-point grading scale. Also, the number of tests administered declined 18 percent.

‘Working harder’

A total of 222 tests were administered in seven subjects: Calculus, physics, world history, U.S. history, English language and composition, English literature and composition and government and U.S. politics. There were 14 students who passed.

One student scored a 4 in English language/composition; six scored a 3 in English language/composition; three scored a 3 in U.S. history; two scored a 3 in world history; and two scored a 2 in English literature/composition.

In 2008, there were 271 tests administered to Pine Bluff students. Nine students received passing scores, all of them 3s, with five of those passing scores in English language/composition and two each in U.S. and world history.

“The teachers are working harder with the set curriculum for AP courses, working after school with them if they need the help and training to prepare them for that test,” Morgan said.

AP advantages

Dollarway administered 100 exams in 2009, with one student scoring a 3 in world history. Thirty-six tests were given in 2008, with three students scoring 3s in English language/composition.

“We will provide more professional development for our teachers in how to teach AP process,” Tucker said.

Watson Chapel administered 368 exams in 2009, with 13 students receiving passing grades. Seven students of 256 registered for testing scored passing grades in 2008.

“It is an improvement in the scores, which is a positive thing,” said Ronette Metcalf, the district’s Gifted and Talented program coordinator. “But even if students don’t score a qualifying score, research shows that students who participate in an AP class are more likely to graduate (college) within four years and their average GPA is half a point higher freshman year because the courses are more rigorous.”

Teacher training

In White Hall, 41 students scored passing grades out of 164 who took advanced placement tests. In 2008, 120 students were tested and 25 earned passing scores.

“The teachers are attending more appropriate workshops that address the AP content and are requiring much more from the students in preparing them for the rigor of the exam,” said Dorothy Welch, assistant superintendent of curriculum, instruction and technology.

Statewide, the number of test takers increased by 8.2 percent to 18,437 and the number of tests administered grew 6.7 percent to 30,114. The number of passing scores increased 8.1 percent to 8,654.

No students in the county districts took the SAT exam, which is the accepted national college entrance exam. Most college-bound students in Arkansas take the ACT because it’s the state’s primary admission tool for colleges.

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