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September 13, 2012

DHS ACT scores surpass state average

Derrick Miller The Duncan Banner

DUNCAN — Duncan High School ACT scores have surpassed the state averages for the first time.

During Tuesday’s regular meeting of the Duncan Board of Education, DHS Principal Gary Reed led a discussion about the improved college-readiness test scores.

Reed said it wasn’t just the overall score that was higher than state average.

“This is the first year we’ve been above the state in almost all areas: English, math, reading and science,” Reed said.

The school district’s overall score was 21.1 on a scale of 36. The state’s overall score was 20.7.

The only area the school district didn’t best the state average was in math. The district ended with an average score of 19.6 against the state’s average of 20.1.

Reed was proud of the students.

The remaining scores included English at 20.8 for the school district and 20.4 for the state average, reading with 22 for the school district and 21.3 for the state average, and science with 21.2 for the school district and 20.6 for the state average.

Reed said the students and teachers have worked hard in the various academic areas to ensure students are prepared for college and a career after high school.

The ACT is a reflection of that college preparedness.

In all, 149 DHS students took the ACT for the 2011-12 school year.

Although this number is slightly lower than last year’s test-taking number of 154, it is higher than the three years proceeding.

For instance, in 2008, 144 students took the test. In 2009, 133 students took the test. And in 2010, 148 students took the test.

Additionally, Reed provided percentages of students who are ready for college courses and the state percentage of students who are ready for college.

The school district surpassed the state in all areas except college algebra.

For college algebra, the school district had 31 percent of its students ready for that subject in college. The state average was 37 percent.

When it came to college English composition, the school district had 70 percent of its students ready for the college level study. The state average was 67 percent.

In college social science, the school district had 55 percent of its students college ready. The state average was 53 percent.

College biology saw 30 percent of students in the school district as college ready.

The state average was 26 percent.

And for the overall college readiness, 23 percent of Duncan students met benchmark in all four areas.

The state average of students making benchmark in all areas was 20 percent.

In addition to college readiness, Reed also discussed the dropout rate.

“It keeps getting better,” Reed said.

Although the final numbers for the 2012 school year are not final until Sept. 28, Reed provided to-date data suggesting seven DHS and 13 EDGE students did dropout.

In the 2011 school year, there were 19 DHS and 19 EDGE students who dropped out.

 In 2010, those numbers included 15 DHS and 34 EDGE students.

Reed also provided a prevention plan the school district has enacted to reduce the number of students who dropout.

These include:

- David Payne visiting student with poor attendance.

- Following up poor attendance with contact through the district attorney.

- No longer signing GED applications.

- Waiving three elective credits at the end of the fourth year for at-risk students.

-  Referring students to the EDGE Academy.

- Referring potential drop-outs to home school.

n\- And following up with student records.

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