By Tim Mandell
Register News Writer
RICHMOND —
Statewide ACT results have been released by the Kentucky Department of Education and the four Madison County high schools scored above the state average in nearly every category.
The test, which was taken by juniors during the spring, is a curriculum-based measure of student’s college readiness.
Model Laboratory School had the sixth highest composite in the state with 21.8.
Model scored 21.7 in English, 20.8 in mathematics, 22.8 in reading and 21.6 in science.
The state averages were 17.8 in English, 18.3 in mathematics, 18.9 in reading, 18.7 in science and a composite of 18.3.
“We’re certainly very excited about our continued success on the ACT,” said James Dantic, director of Model.
“It’s a byproduct of what’s going on in the classroom from pre-K and primary up through high school,” he said. “It’s an effort by all our teachers to help support our students. We’re trying to continue to build on that and maintain high expectations.”
Only Louisville Dupont Manual (24.7), Beechwood (24.3), Fort Thomas Highlands (23.1), Lexington’s Paul Lawrence Dunbar (22.7) and North Oldham (22.1) had higher composite scores than Model.
Model was ranked seventh in the state in 2009 with a composite of 21.7.
Last year, 42 students took the test for Model. This year, 53 students participated.
Berea Community High School significantly increased its scores from last year.
In 2009, Berea had a composite of 18.3, but finished this year at 19.8.
Berea raised its scores in every category, scoring 20.2 in English, 18.8 in mathematics, 20.8 in reading and 18.9 in science.
In 2009, Berea scored 18.3 in English, 17.2 in mathematics, 18.9 in reading and 18.4 in science.
“We’re very excited about the level of improvement for our students,” said Donna Lovell, Berea Community School’s director of district-wide services.
“Being in the top 13 percent in composite and the top 7 percent in language and arts was a nice reward for our students,” she said. “We’re really happy with the improvement and look forward to improving next year.”
This year, 81 students took the test for Berea, 16 more than last year.
“Over the past couple of years, we’ve really tried to encourage all of our students to take the test,” Lovell said.
Madison County Schools announced their scores in a press release earlier this month.
Students at Madison Central High School scored above the state average in every category, finishing with 18.8 in English, 18.5 in mathematics, 19.9 in reading, 19.5 in science and a composite of 19.3.
Madison Southern raised its scores in every category, scoring 18.4 in English, 18.4 in mathematics, 19.4 in reading and 18.5 in science for a composite of 18.8.
In 2010, 421 students took the test at Madison Central, while 237 Madison Southern students were tested.
In the spring, 44,390 Kentucky public school juniors took the test, which is paid for by state funds, according to a press release from the Kentucky Department of Education.
Tim Mandell can be reached at tmandell@richmondregister.com or 623-1669 ext. 6696.
