Learning from the Class of 2009

Each year ACT releases a college readiness report. It’s designed to show students and schools what they are doing well and where they need to improve. Nearly 1.5 million 2009 high school graduates took the exam. For this class of 2009, ACT research showed that:

• Just 23 percent of graduates met all four of ACT’s College Readiness Benchmarks. These benchmarks are minimum scores needed on an ACT subject-area test to indicate a 50 percent chance of obtaining a “B” or higher or about a 75 percent chance of obtaining a “C” or higher in corresponding credit-bearing college coursework.
• The 2009 ACT national average composite score was 21.1, the same as last year.
• The average scores on the four subject-area tests were as follows: English (20.6); mathematics (21.0); reading (21.4); and science (20.9).
• Science and math are the subjects with the most room for improvement. Only 28 percent of ACT-tested 2009 graduates met the benchmark in science and just 42 percent in math.

Your student’s college success is directly related to the type of preparation he or she has done in high school. ACT test scores reflect that college preparation.

Encourage your child to take challenging courses in high school—with a particular focus on high-level skills in math and science, and working on reading skills—to improve college readiness in all areas.

Four Reasons Your Teen Should Attend College

If your teenager is considering college, you should know that college degrees offer some definite advantages. For example, college graduates can expect to:

• Earn almost twice as much as those with just a high school diploma, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
• Find it easier to retain or seek jobs than less educated workers. One estimate says that by the year 2028, there will be 19 million more jobs for educated workers than there are people to fill them.
• Establish valuable networking contacts through professional and social organizations.
• Gain specialized training in their field of choice.
• See our website for more information about choosing a college.

Meet the Bloggers

Each school year, ACT features student bloggers who write about their high school experiences. This year’s bloggers are Lisa Marie Cantú (Texas) and Andy Samuels (Colorado).

Lisa Marie Cantú

For Lisa Marie Cantú, daily challenges and opportunities are like rich chocolate. “I never hesitate to accept them,” she says. And challenges and opportunities have come to her abundantly, at full speed.

Lisa, a 17-year-old Latina, is ACT’s first bilingual student blogger and tackles challenges with open arms —like having an academic schedule that hardly leaves her time to breathe, taking advanced college courses, being her school's yearbook editor, becoming La Joya High School’s recently-appointed Editor-in-Chief of The Howler newspaper, being an active member of her school's cheerleading group, the Jewelettes, and playing softball. But that's okay. Lisa has set her goals quite high. She wants to be a journalist and is embracing that challenge right now.

"Soon I am going to be The Monitor’s — La Joya, Texas’ newspaper — next editor," she told a Monitor journalist.

Andy Samuels

Andy Samuels' first passion is snow skiing. However, between taking a full load of rigorous, advanced classes, serving as the Editor-in-Chief of his high school newspaper, writing award-winning articles, serving as President of both the National and German Honor Societies, participating in organized recreational sports, and maintaining a 4.5 GPA, one wonders how he ever finds time to head down the slopes.

An avid traveler, Andy spent a month on a study abroad trip to Germany. He has also traveled to England, Scotland, France, Switzerland, Russia, Estonia, Italy, Sweden, Finland, Spain, Mexico, Costa Rica, Israel, The Bahamas, and Morocco.

After high school, Andy wants to pursue a combined college major in Economics and Psychology. He hopes to continue writing for a student publication, but is really looking forward to having time to write more creative things like short stories. Right now, Andy is considering applying to several top colleges and universities.

According to his family, Andy is an intellectual and education has always been a priority for him. But they cite his kindness and big heart as his greatest asset. “I love to surround myself with family and friends,” he said. “I like to make someone else’s day.”

2009–2010 ACT Test Date Schedule

December is the next available test date. It’s a great time for seniors to take the ACT before submitting college applications.

Students may register online or pick up registration packets from their high school counseling office. The cost for the ACT test without writing is $32. When combined with the optional ACT Writing Test, the total cost is $47. For those who qualify, fee waivers are available from high school counselors.

If you think others would benefit from the information in ACT Parent, please encourage them to subscribe to ACT Parent.

See also:

ACT's Information for Parents

The ACT

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