ACT scores drop statewide

Disappointment greets the announcement today of the scores from a test to measure readiness for college and career.  The 2016 scores of graduating seniors statewide show that only 14% of the graduates met the ACT college-ready benchmarks in English, Reading, Mathematics, and Science.  The average ACT composite score of 18.5 for SC students fell short of the national average of 20.8.  Oconee’s score of 18.3 fell below state average.  “It is obvious we have work to ensure that our students are college and career ready.” Said Dr. Michael Thorsland, Oconee superintendent of education.  “We have made a clear commitment to this and have identified strategies in our strategic plan to accomplish this goal.”  In years past, students taking the ACT were those taking it as a college entrance requirement.  But the state is in the second year of testing 100% of eleventh graders and the result is that the average scores dropped.