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Education: ACT Scores Indicator DuPage County ACT scores remain consistently above state averages.
ABOUT THE INDICATOR The ACT is a standardized test that evaluates students’ knowledge in four areas of study: English, Math, Science Reasoning, and Reading. ACT scores show how well our high schools prepare students for post-secondary education. The maximum ACT test score is 36. Comparing ACT scores from year to year must take into account the number of students taking the exam because larger samples tend to decrease the average score. For example, the number of students tested was especially large in DuPage County and in Illinois after 2001 because of new state educational testing requirements. Prior to 2002, students who took the ACT in DuPage and in Illinois were those intending to go to college. As of 2002, the ACT is being administered to all students statewide as part of the Prairie State Achievement Exam rather than being used as merely a college entrance exam. The ACT, when used in conjunction with other tests, is regarded as a good measure of general educational development. OBSERVATIONS High school students in DuPage County, on average, tend to perform better on the ACT test than their counterparts throughout the state. The average composite score for DuPage students in 2002 was 22, compared with an average score of 20.1 for the state . The DuPage County average also compares favorably with the national average, which was 20.8 in 2002. The decline in average ACT scores for DuPage County and Illinois between 2001 and 2002 reflects the sharp increase in the number of test takers that occurred as a result of Illinois’ new testing requirement. In 2002, nearly 40,000 more Illinois students took the ACT than in 2001; in DuPage County the number of students tested increased nearly 45% (from 7,554 to 10,950). TAPESTRY DuPage County makes large investments in their students and schools. These investments result in higher teacher salaries, increased extracurricular activities, and state-of–the-art learning equipment. In fact, DuPage County is home to one of the nation’s largest and most technologically-advanced high schools. High ACT scores in the county suggest that our schools are doing a good job of preparing students for college. High ACT scores also reflect the fact that DuPage County parents are generally well educated and relatively affluent. As such, they value education, support their children’s schools, and encourage their children to do well. Because ACT scores are considered valid indicators of college success, they have implications for the future economic status of a community. Students who earn high ACT scores are likely to complete their college education, and a college education is associated with better jobs, higher income, and less poverty—all positive economic indicators. HOW TO GET INVOLVED OR LEARN MORE
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