Officials with Henry County Schools recently announced that ACT scores for the most recent graduating class increased for the second straight year. The overall composite score rose for the district while improvement was also shown in the tested subject areas.
“Increased academic achievement levels and another national test with improved performances by our students is definitely worth celebrating,” said Board of Education chair Holly Cobb. “We have witnessed how special the Class of 2021 is in so many ways, and this is just one more way they are leaving a strong legacy.”
The ACT, like its SAT counterpart, is a nationally standardized test typically used as a part of the college admissions process, but with four subjects tested: English language arts, math, reading and science. A perfect score overall or in any subject area is 36.
Last spring a number of colleges and universities across the nation suspended the use of standardized tests as a part of the admissions process due to the pandemic. There was also a decline in the number of students who took the test compared to the previous year, which was expected.
The district composite score increased by 0.6 points, to 20.3, while the district scores in English, math, reading and science improved by 0.5, 0.5, 0.7, and 0.5 points, respectively.
The county’s seniors also saw district performance levels equal to the national scores in science (20.4) and the overall composite scores (20.3), while surpassing the national score in reading with a 21.1 compared to the national average of 20.9.
Of the district’s 10 high schools, five had senior classes realize across-the-board gains in all subject areas and composite scores: Dutchtown, Eagle’s Landing, Locust Grove, McDonough and Ola.
Ola seniors scored higher than their state and national peers in reading, science, and the composite score. They also scored higher than just their national peers in English and math.
Union Grove seniors topped both the national and state averages in math and science while scoring higher than just their national counterparts in English, reading, and the composite score.
“This class of seniors will always stand out due to the pandemic circumstances they encountered and overcame,” said district superintendent Mary Elizabeth Davis. “No matter what, our students never stopped their pursuit of learning at the highest levels and achieving success, and our teachers were there every step of the way to ensure our students finished strong and continued on the academic path that leads to success beyond school.”
