MHS exceeds state average in ACT scores

Maricopa High School students who took the ACT assessment this year outscored the state averages in all four areas.

“That’s pretty remarkable to see,” MUSD Superintendent Steve Chestnut said. “Generally we’re above the state average on two or three, but in the past five years, it’s the first time we’ve been above the state average in all four.”

The ACT, a college-readiness exam, tests in English, reading, math and science. MHS juniors and seniors took the test.

“We are very excited that MHS students outperformed Arizona students on all four tests,” Principal Renita Myers said. “Our teachers do an excellent job of preparing students for college and career.”

MHS students were also above the U.S. averages in three of four areas, lagging only in math.

“We have an excellent college prep program at MHS,” Chestnut said. “It doesn’t start when the student takes the ACT in grade 11 or 12. It really starts in kindergarten.

“It’s a 13-year, team effort.”

MHS particularly excelled in reading, where average scores were above the state and the nation as well as the established benchmark.

ACT uses benchmarks to determine if students are prepared for college-level work. MHS test-takers exceeded the benchmark for reading and English. The benchmark in reading is 22. MHS averaged nearly 23.

Math and science, however, proved a sticking point. The benchmark for math is 22 and for science 23. The Arizona average in math was 20.2 and for the nation 20.6. Maricopa fell in between those two, well short of the benchmark. MHS approached 21 in science, outscoring other Arizona and the U.S. averages but still short of the benchmark.

MHS improved in a year most scoring averages declined.

“This year’s ACT-tested class is more representative of the student population than any we’ve ever had,” ACT Chief Executive Officer Marten Roorda said in announcing the 2016 results. “We have likely added many more underrepresented students who may not have been preparing to go to college. In a situation such as this, it’s not at all surprising that overall achievement levels went down.”

ACT noted that even as the size of Arizona’s graduating class taking the ACT has grown, the average ACT Composite score is the highest in five years. Average scores usually decrease with a broadening of the testing base.

Conversely, there was a nationwide decrease in the percentage of American students meeting at least three of the four benchmarks. That decline is attributed in part to the addition of seven more states funding the ACT for all 11th graders.