FRANKFORT, Ky. (KT) – The percentage of Kentucky public high school graduates meeting the state’s college readiness benchmarks on the ACT college-entrance exam in English, mathematics and reading saw a slight increase, according to data released Wednesday by ACT.
The state benchmarks represent the minimum scores that guarantee students entry into corresponding credit-bearing courses at Kentucky colleges and universities without the need for developmental education or supplemental courses.
ACT also has its own College Readiness Benchmarks, which are slightly higher than Kentucky’s, and represent the minimum score needed on an ACT subject-area test to indicate a 50 percent chance of receiving a B or higher or a 75 percent chance of earning a C or higher in credit-bearing college courses.
PERCENTAGES OF KENTUCKY PUBLIC SCHOOL GRADUATES MEETING
COUNCIL ON POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION STANDARDS FOR COLLEGE READINESS
Standard and Extended Time Students Combined
| COLLEGE-LEVEL COURSE | BENCHMARK | 2016 GRADUATES MEETING BENCHMARK | 2017 GRADUATES MEETING BENCHMARK | 2018 GRADUATES MEETING BENCHMARK |
| English | 18 | 57% | 56% | 57% |
| Mathematics | 19 | 41% | 42% | 44% |
| Reading | 20 | 50% | 51% | 53% |
Since Kentucky began administering the ACT, Kentucky public school graduates have registered slight ups and downs in scores from year to year with nearly every subject up overall since 2014.
KENTUCKY PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES’ AVERAGE ACT SCORES
Standard and Extended Time Students Combined
| 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | |
| English | 19.1 | 19.2 | 19.2 | 19.4 |
| Mathematics | 19.3 | 19.1 | 19.1 | 19.4 |
| Reading | 20.0 | 20.2 | 20.2 | 20.4 |
| Science | 19.8 | 19.6 | 19.8 | 19.8 |
| Composite | 19.7 | 19.7 | 19.7 | 19.9 |
| Number taking test | 45,162 | 46,285 | 46,840 | 46,988 |
“We are pleased with the increases in ACT scores for the Kentucky class of 2018. Even these modest increases are undoubtedly the result of lots of hard work on the part of students, educators, and parents,” said Kentucky Education Commissioner Wayne Lewis. “The results also show, however, continued significant disparities between the performance of student groups by race/ethnicity. Eliminating such incredible disparities must become a top education priority for our state.”
The Department of Education says of particular importance is the comparison between the junior and senior class scores of the same school year. Since 2008, all of Kentucky’s public school juniors have participated in the ACT and the cost of the exam is paid for by state funds.
Students who take the test again during their senior year do so voluntarily and at their own expense. According to ACT, students who take the exam multiple times are more likely to improve their test score over time. Additionally, when reporting group or state averages, ACT utilizes the individual’s highest score achieved if they have taken the test multiple times.
Lewis said because some students choose to take the test again in their senior year, it is important to examine Kentucky’s junior scores and the scores for the graduating class.