Nevada students ‘worst’ in country on ACT
By Trevon Milliard, Reno Gazette-Journal
For the first time in Nevada history, all students in this year’s high school graduating class took the ACT so schools could gauge their success in college preparation. And the results aren’t good.
Only 11 percent of the 32,261 students scored high enough to be considered ready for college-level courses, according to ACT scores released Wednesday.
Nationwide, about 26 percent of students taking the ACT out of the 2016 class scored college-ready, meaning they demonstrated the skills necessary in English, reading, math and science to survive entry-level college courses. In most states, the college-entrance exam is voluntary with 64 percent of students participating nationwide for the 2016 graduating class.
State education officials expected Nevada’s ACT scores to reach new lows for the class of 2016. Such is the case when a state forces all students to take the ACT as part of its graduation requirements. As more students are tested, average scores decline.
