Horry County Schools students beat state average on new standardized tests
Fewer than half of all S.C. 11th-graders met college-readiness benchmarks of the new ACT and ACT Aspire standardized tests, according to data released by the S.C. Department of Education.
Horry County Schools students didn’t meet the college-ready benchmark but did score higher than state averages. Georgetown County students scored closer to the statewide averages for both tests.
Horry students exceeded the state’s mean composite score for the 11th grade ACT exam. Students in 3rd through 8th grades who took the ACT Aspire test also scored higher than the state average.
Horry had a mean composite score of 18.3 on the ACT compared to the state’s mean score of 17.9, according to data from the S.C. Department of Education. Georgetown County Schools scored a composite 17.2.
Only eight districts met the college ready English benchmark for the new test, while two districts met the mark for reading. The Governor’s School for Math and Science was the only school to meet the mark for math and science.
The S.C. Legislature enacted legislation in 2014 to administer an assessment to all 11th graders that would measure student readiness for college and could be used by students to apply for a two or four-year college. The test selected through state procurement laws was The ACT Plus Writing.
As a state, we are raising our expectations for student achievement. The bar has been raised as we try to give students and families the information they need to find out if students are on track to be successful in college and careers.
Melanie Barton
S.C. Education Oversight Committee executive directorFewer than half of students statewide met benchmarks showing college readiness in the ACT’s four subject areas: math, reading, English and science. Horry County students scored roughly the same, though all the scores are higher than the state average.
For many Horry County students, ACT scores still need improvement:
- In English, 42.7% scored “ready”
- In math, 23.3% scored “ready”
- In reading, 26.6% scored “ready”
- In science, 18.2% scored “ready”
Georgetown County students’ ACT scores are closer to the statewide average:
- In English, 33.8% scored “ready”
- In math, 17.3% scored “ready”
- In reading, 20% scored “ready”
- In science, 14.5% scored “ready”
The new tests “reflect more rigorous academic standards and expectations” and shouldn’t be compared to past tests, according to the S.C. Department of Education.
“It is important to note that Aspire and ACT were administered for the first time in our state,” said S.C. Superintendent Molly Spearman in a release. “District staff, principals, teachers, and parents must all work together to ensure our students are college- and career-ready, and I have great confidence that we’re headed in the right direction.”
The ACT Aspire tests – which is given to grades three through eight – replaced the Palmetto Assessment of State Standards (PASS) in English Language Arts, mathematics, and writing. Students statewide succeeded more often on Aspire compared to the ACT, however less than half of students scored “ready” on the reading section.
The percentage of Horry students who scored “ready” or “exceeding” in math, writing and English is a few points higher than the statewide average, with the highest scores in English. Students scored the lowest in reading and only 39 percent of 8th grade Horry students reached the benchmark in math.
We know that our students are performing at high levels in the technical colleges, universities, and the workplaces. We are proud of the efforts our teachers are making to assure that all students are successful.
Patti Hammel
with Georgetown County School DistrictGeorgetown County student scores were consistent with the statewide average, though 27 students scored “maximum scale scores” on the ACT Aspire. Students scored highest in English with writing being the greatest area of challenge, according to Patti Hammel, executive director for Student Performance and Federal Programs for Georgetown County School District.
“Students had never been administered a timed set of assessments for accountability; therefore, we anticipated the results would reflect the change in format,” Hammel said.
Georgetown County schools will continue to teach technical writing and reading to students, and Hammel said scores should improve when tests become more consistent.
“Consistency in how districts are assessed will show growth,” she said.
South Carolina is one of 19 states that pay for students to take either the ACT or SAT, which measures college-readiness and is used by postsecondary educational institutions for admittance.
This years’ results “should serve as a warning for South Carolina students, families and policy makers, particularly as we recruit industry in our state and look at the current and projected education requirements for employment in S.C.,” said Melanie Barton, executive director of the S.C. Education Oversight Committee.
Claire Byun: 843-626-0381, @Claire_TSN
This story was originally published October 23, 2015 at 1:08 AM with the headline "Horry County Schools students beat state average on new standardized tests."