Parish ACT scores stable, but below La. average

St. Mary Parish student’s composite score on the ACT college readiness test is slightly below the state’s average of 19.5 this year. The present average ACT score for the parish is 18.7.

“Our composite average has stayed the same over the past three years, 18.7, 18.8, and now we’re back to 18.7,” said St. Mary Assistant Superintendent Teresa Bagwell. “We’re pretty steady on the composite.”

Increasing those scores is difficult to do.

“Given the fact that it is not tied to any succinct set of standards,” Bagwell said, “it’s an aptitude test. It’s not something you can teach someone to do well on.”

All the high schools employ some version of ACT preparation. It ranges from online access to face-to-face prep.

The ACT is an aptitude preparedness test that necessitates that a student would be participating in college preparatory coursework to do well on the test, Bagwell said.

Not all students taking the test are on the college preparatory track. Some students are in the JumpStart program, which has an optional test students can take.

In order for schools to “improve your composite on the ACT test, high schools need to employ a more widespread use of college preparatory course work,” Bagwell said.

To help prepare students for the ACT, Bagwell suggests that students take high level math and English courses. She also stresses the need to be a good reader.

“There are good strategies that you can teach them,” Bagwell said. “The bottom line is, the kid has to be in the college prep classes in order to do well on the ACT test.”

But the quality of college prep work Bagwell mentioned could be in question based on findings released by WalletHub on Monday.

WalletHub released its “ 2016’s States with the Best & Worst School Systems” report, which ranks Louisiana at No. 51 as the worst system in the U.S.

Quality rankings of schools in Louisiana listed in the report are below, with 1 as best and 25 as average:

48th – Math Test Score.

48th – Reading Test Score.

30th – Pupil-Teacher Ratio.

45th – Dropout Rate.

33rd – School Safety.

47th – Average ACT Score.

37th – Percentage of Licensed/Certified Public K-12 Teachers.

The state department is aware of the published rankings. It also recognizes high expectations for academic achievement must be a mainstay in school systems.

“While our students have made tremendous progress, we must acknowledge that this is unacceptable for our students and their families highlighting the need to continue raising expectations to give our children the education they deserve,” Louisiana Department of Education spokesperson Barry Landry said in an email.

The spokesperson highlights the academic progress made in 2015, according to the department’s set plans.

“Our plan is working as evidenced by our 4th grade students achieving the highest growth among all states on the 2015 NAEP reading test and second highest growth in math, Landry said.

“Additionally, the graduation rate is at an all-time high, ACT performance has increased for a third straight year, and students showed greater annual improvement on Advanced Placement in 2015 than in any state other than Massachusetts.

“These results demonstrate our children are as smart and capable as any in America,” Landry said.

The full WalletHub report can be accessed at: https://wallethub.com/edu/states-with-the-best-schools/5335/