GCS Seniors Show Increase in ACT Scores
Results from the ACT Condition of College and Career Readiness Report, released today, show an increase in Greenville County Schools’ average composite score on the ACT from 19.2 in 2016 to 19.5 in 2017. The number of GCS seniors taking the ACT increased from 4,909 in 2016 to 4,986 in 2017. Greenville County Schools’ 2017 average ACT score ranks seventh highest in the state.
The Condition of College and Career Readiness Report includes an aggregation of the most recent score for each student who was in the 12th grade during the 2016-2017 school year. Scores represent a combination of students who were required to participate in state testing and those who took the ACT another time on their own.
South Carolina is one of 17 states that tested 100 percent of the 2017 graduating class, whereas, 60 percent of seniors nationwide were tested. South Carolina’s 2017 graduates earned an overall composite score of 18.7, up from 18.5 in 2016. The national average ACT score increased from 20.8 in 2016 to 21.0 in 2017. The ACT saw a drop in the percent of the graduating class taking the test (64 percent to 60 percent), mainly due to Illinois and Michigan switching from statewide ACT to statewide SAT testing.
“Increases across each ACT subject area, including the composite score, show that Greenville County Schools’ teachers and students are rising to the expectations set before them,” said Dr. Jason McCreary, Executive Director of Accountability and Quality Assurance. “With the introduction of G+ and the reauthorized Elementary and Secondary Schools Act, expectations will continue to increase as we prepare students for life-long learning and productive participation in society and the workforce.”
Subject Tests
- The ACT subject test with the highest average score was Reading (20.0), followed by Science (19.6), Math (19.4), and English (18.3).
- The ACT Reading score average increased from 19.7 in 2016 to 20.0 in 2017.
- The ACT Science score average increased from 19.3 in 2016 to 19.6 in 2017.
- The ACT Math score average increased from 19.1 in 2016 to 19.4 in 2017.
- The ACT English score average increased from 18.1 in 2016 to 18.3 in 2017.
|
Institute |
Year |
# Tested |
English |
Mathematics |
Reading |
Science |
Composite |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
GCS |
2016 |
4,909 |
18.1 |
19.1 |
19.7 |
19.3 |
19.2 |
|
GCS |
2017 |
4,986 |
18.3 |
19.4 |
20.0 |
19.6 |
19.5 |
|
SC |
2016 |
51,098 |
17.3 |
18.5 |
19.0 |
18.6 |
18.5 |
|
SC |
2017 |
50,936 |
17.5 |
18.6 |
19.1 |
18.9 |
18.7 |
|
Nation* |
2016 |
2,090,342 |
20.1 |
20.6 |
21.3 |
20.8 |
20.8 |
|
Nation* |
2017 |
2,030,038 |
20.3 |
20.7 |
21.4 |
21.0 |
21.0 |
*Nation tested 60% of seniors.
District- and school-level data files for the 2017 ACT College and Career Readiness report can be viewed by following this link.