| As we ask the question, "How do we use the data to improve student achievement?" one approach is to use the national tests to identify the top performing states to look to as national models.
August 2008 - Minnesota Students Lead Nation on ACT Scores - Data highlight importance of efforts to increase rigorous course taking. Minnesota students achieved the highest average ACT score in the nation in 2008, according to results released today by ACT. Minnesota's 2008 graduating seniors who took the ACT earned an average composite score of 22.6 on the college admission and placement exam, which was higher than last year's score of 22.5. The average ACT score for the nation is 21.1 out of a possible 36 points, Minnesota Office of Higher Education.
June 2008 - ACT High School Profile Report: The Graduating Class of 2008: Minnesota; ACT 2008 State Results, ACT.
- 44,863 Minnesota students took the ACT in 2008
- 77% met benchmarks in English
- 56% met benchmarks in Mathematics
- 64% met benchmarks in Reading
- 40% met benchmarks in Science
- 32% of Minnesota students met all four benchmarks
Minnesota Class of 2008 taking the ACT by ethnicity:
|
# / Test Takers
|
Class of 2008 Enrollment |
% Taking the ACT
|
| All Students |
44,863 |
74749 |
60% |
| Caucasian American/White |
35,010 |
59234 |
59% |
| Asian American/Pacific Islander |
2,133 |
4457 |
48% |
| Hispanic |
812 |
2925 |
28% |
| African American/Black |
1,629 |
6685 |
24% |
| American Indian/Alaska Native |
239 |
1448 |
17% |
| Other/No Response |
5,040 |
n/a |
|
(Enrollment data extracted from 2007-2008 Enrollments-State--Grade/Ethnicity/Gender (2/21/08), Minnesota Department of Education.)
August 2007 - Minnesota Students Lead Nation on ACT Scores - Data highlight importance of efforts to increase rigorous course taking, Minnesota Office of Higher Education.
August 2005 - ACT Scores Reveal Much About College Readiness, Minnesota Office of Higher Education [Table]. ACT test results of 2005 high school graduates by racial/ethnic background: Minnesota and national
Minnesota students of color had higher average ACT scores than those nationally, except for Asians who had lower scores in Minnesota
|
Number of
Test Takers |
Percent |
Minnesota
Average Score |
National
Average Score |
| All Students |
41,646 |
100 |
22.3 |
20.9 |
| Am Indian |
202 |
0 |
20.0 |
18.7 |
| Asian |
1,910 |
5 |
20.3 |
22.1 |
| Black |
1,137 |
3 |
17.6 |
17.0 |
| Hispanic |
609 |
1 |
20.4 |
18.6 |
| White |
34,579 |
83 |
22.6 |
21.9 |
| Other/No Response |
3,209 |
8 |
22.8 |
20.9 |
Even so...
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