Dickinson School Board reveiws ACT test scores

Talk about it

There were positive signs in last year’s ACT test scores at Dickinson Public School, but there is still room for improvement in areas the board learned Monday.

“We have some scores that are higher than the state average, we have some scores that are the same the state average, and one that is lower in the area of reading,” said Superintendent Doug Sullivan told the board during the monthly board meeting at the central office board room.

The district’s average composite score for last school year was 20.9, compared to the state’s average composite score of 21.6. The highest possible ACT score is 36.

Dickinson High School Principal Ron Dockter said DHS was “right about in the middle” of the scores from other districts around the state.

“ACT says that you need an 18, as far as the writing, and a 22 in the math and you’re going to be doing OK in college, as far as at least getting in C or better in those courses,” he said.

Because last year was the first year for the writing portion of the ACT test, there was no way to compare progress.

Dockter added that 84 of the 184 DHS students who took the test last year scored at or above 20 on their ACT.

“Of last year’s seniors who graduated in 2012, almost 40 percent qualified for the academic scholarship that is given out by the state,” he said.

Board president Kris Fehr questioned whether DPS’s average ACT science scores by sequence were at or below the state average because the district does not have the same courses that are offered by other schools, or whether students weren’t taking certain level science courses.

Dockter said it is more likely that when some students take the ACT test they may not have had the opportunity to take the class yet.

Fehr asked if students were being put at a disadvantage by not taking upper level courses sooner.

Dockter said the district works to get more advanced students in the upper level courses soon if possible.

“Most kids will take their ACT test their junior year and their senior year,” he said. “We try to get students in upper level courses as soon as we can. I think we’re on the right track, though. We’ve just got to keep pushing and pushing.”

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