FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THURSDAY, AUGUST 17, 2000
Madison students taking the ACT continue to outperform their state and national peers, with composite scores a full two points ahead of Wisconsin students (9 percent higher) and over three points (15 percent higher) more than students tested nationally. Madison students' composite score was 24.2, Wisconsin 22.2 and the nation held at 21.0 – out of a possible 36 points.
Madison students' performance on the ACT is better than a decade ago, despite the fact that a record number of seniors took the test this year. During the 1990-91 school year 58.5 percent of the district's students took the test, scoring a 23.1 average. Ten years later, nearly three of four (73.8%) seniors took the ACT, scoring a 24.2 average.
During the decade there was approximately a 50 percent increase in the number of Madison low-income students (those eligible for free/reduced meals) taking the ACT – from 12.2 percent in 1990-91 to 18 percent this year.
The percentage of students from various ethnic groups taking the ACT continues to increase. Two years ago, 29 percent of African-American MMSD 12th graders took the ACT; last year the percentage rose to 39. During the 1997-98 school year 57 percent of MMSD Asian students took the ACT, rising to 71 percent this year; for MMSD Hispanic students, 52% in 1997-98, 67% this year.
Jenna R. Kanter, an East High School senior, was one of two Wisconsin students to receive a perfect score when she took the ACT last April.
The ACT exam is administered nationally by the American College Testing Program and covers, English, reading, math and science reasoning.
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Last Modified: 2000-08-17
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