OHIO STUDENTS For 5th year, state tops national average on ACT

The maximum score is 36.
Ohio's Class of 2003 outscored the national average, for the fifth year in a row, on the American College Testing entrance and placement exam, according to results released this week by ACT.
The average score of 21.4 achieved by Ohio's 2003 graduating seniors places them ahead of the 20.8 national average. The average scores for Ohio and the nation have been steady for the past five years. The report also shows that 3,708 more Ohio students participated in this year's test.
Reason for results
Ohio's scores show that strong academic preparation in high school is a key factor in ACT performance, said Susan Tave Zelman, state superintendent of public instruction. Ohio students who completed a "core curriculum" achieved an average ACT score of 22.4 compared to a 19.6 for students who completed less. Core high school curriculum is defined as a minimum of four years of English and three years each of math, social studies and natural sciences.
"It remains critical that parents, teachers and school advisors note the importance of encouraging students to take a strong academic curriculum in high school so that they have the skills they need to succeed," said Zelman.
The ACT, with a score of one to 36, tests students on English, math, reading and science. It is used for college admission and placement.
"It is evident that more and more young Ohioans are understanding the message that higher education is essential for them to succeed in the Knowledge Economy," said Roderick G.W. Chu, chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents. "... However, ... Ohioans continue on to college only at an average rate. ... We must encourage even more students to make sound investments in their future by continuing their education beyond high school."
Statistics
Seventy-four percent of Ohio's Asian/Pacific Islander students and 64 percent of white students took a core curriculum in high school, compared to 56 percent of blacks, 58 percent of Mexican-Americans and 60 percent of Hispanics. ACT scores followed a similar pattern, with Asian/Pacific Islanders averaging 22.9 percent, whites averaging 21.8 percent, blacks averaging 17.1 percent, Mexican-Americans averaging 20 percent and Hispanics averaging 19.9 percent.
These results Ohio parallel national data, which shows that white and Asian/Pacific Islander seniors outscored black and Latino students and also were more likely to be enrolled in a core curriculum in high school.