![[MMSD/Wisc/US ACT Comparison Chart]](highact.gif)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TUESDAY, AUGUST 17, 1999
Madison students maintained their high level of performance on the ACT college entrance exam in 1999, in line with their performance for the last two years. Madison students surpassed their state peers by over two full points (9 percent higher), and over three points more (16 percent higher) than students tested nationally. Madison students' composite score was 24.4, the state 22.3, and the nation 21.0 – out of a possible 36.
The high performance comes despite the record number of students taking the test. The number of students tested in Madison represents almost seven out of 10 high school seniors – the largest proportion over the last nine years. The results are somewhat contrary to conventional wisdom that scores will decline as poverty increases in the high schools. Madison high school poverty rates have increased steadily over the past nine years with no appreciable affect on scores or the percentage of students taking the test.
ACT routinely emphasizes taking "core" academic classes (four years of English, and three, or more years of math, science, and social studies). In Madison, students with a core curriculum scored over 2.5 points higher when compared with Madison students with less than a core curriculum (25.7 vs. 23.1). This difference in performance is found across all ethnic categories. A score of 25 is often a cutoff mark at prestigious schools.
ACT exam is administered nationally by the American College Testing Program and covers English, math, reading and science reasoning.
Public Information Office
545 W. Dayton St.
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email: newsrelease@madison.k12.wi.us
Last Modified: 1999-08-17
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