Student ACT Scores Are on the Rise
National officials with the ACT college entrance exam sounded an alarm last month about declining scores in the United States, saying Class of 2018 graduates’ average ACT math score dropped to the lowest level in more than 20 years, at 20.5.
Bucking that national trend, math scores for the Fayette County Public Schools Class of 2018 hit a five-year high of 20.9. Reading achievement also hit a five-year high, while science and English scores were the best in three years.
In fact, Fayette County’s seniors outpaced the nation in all areas – significantly besting national and state averages in English, math, reading and science.
Overall, the composite ACT scores for the class of 2018 in FCPS was 21.2, well above the U.S. average (20.8) or state average (20.2).
Those results are particularly impressive given the fact that Kentucky is one of only 17 states across the nation where all students take the ACT. In most states, only students who are planning to go to college take the ACT.
The graduating class of 2018 in Fayette County had higher composite ACT scores than their peers in all 17 states where 100% of students are assessed, including neighboring Ohio and Tennessee.
In addition, greater percentages of FCPS graduates hit college readiness benchmarks in every subject than their counterparts across the state or nation.
For example, 33% of Kentucky’s seniors and 40% of America’s seniors reached benchmarks showing they were prepared for college algebra, while 41% of FCPS seniors demonstrated readiness.
In science, 38% of FCPS seniors reached college benchmarks compared with 32% of Kentucky seniors and 36% of U.S. seniors.
Across the nation, less than 0.2% of Class of 2018 test takers earned a “perfect” composite score of 36 on the ACT – 3,741 out of 1,914,817. In Fayette County, 16 students earned perfect scores – three times the national rate.
Members of the Class of 2018 were admitted to 309 colleges and universities, including all 10 of the nation’s best colleges as rated by U.S. News and World Report and all eight Ivy League schools.
FCPS graduates will attend college in 43 states, Washington, D.C., and five countries .
Collectively, the Class of 2018 earned more than $103.7 million in scholarship offers, up from roughly $90 million in 2017.
Our 2018 graduates also included 70 Governor’s Scholars, 40 Governor’s School for the Arts participants, and nine Governor’s School for Entrepreneurs participants.
The Class of 2018 also included 25 graduates who earned the International Spanish Academy diploma, 29 graduates who earned the International Baccalaureate Medallion and 87 students who earned the Seal of Biliteracy.
Stellar academic achievement is a tradition for the Fayette County Public Schools and as your servant superintendent, I am committed to building on past accomplishments.
Consider this – the amazing Class of 2018 had 36 National Merit Semi-Finalists. The Jefferson County Public Schools, which have more than two times the number of students we do here in Lexington, has 36 National Merit Semi-Finalists this year.
Here in FCPS, our Class of 2019 has 51 – the best is yet to come!