Class of 2009 scores
By Sandy Garrett, State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Friday, August 28, 2009
      
        College-entrance exam scores are in for the Class of 2009.  While progress is noted in both sets of results—ACT and SAT—there continue to be challenges for the state to address.  
      Oklahoma’s average ACT score remained the same from 2008 as did the nation’s score.   While our state made gains in math and science this year, the average composite score remained at 20.7; the nation's average score is still 21.1. The ACT is graded on a scale from 0-36.  Over the past five years, Oklahoma has improved its composite score by 0.3; the nation's has improved by 0.2. 
      Oklahoma's average science score for 2009 increased to 20.5 from 20.4, and in Math the scores improved to 19.9 from 19.8.  Science improved by the same margin nationally, but the nation’s math performance was flat in 2009.
      Reading and English scores were unchanged from 2008 for both Oklahoma and the nation.  The state’s reading score (21.4) equals the national average and the English score (20.5) is just one-tenth of a point from the national average (20.6). 
      A higher percentage of students in Oklahoma’s Class of 2009 took the ACT (71 percent) as compared to the national average (45 percent), and only 13 states have a higher percentage of students who take the ACT.  
      Oklahoma’s minority students continue to outscore their national counterparts.  In addition, more Oklahoma minority students took the ACT this year, indicating a greater interest in going to college.  
      Native American students who took the test increased to 13 percent of test takers, and the number of Hispanic students rose to 5.5 percent.  The number of African American students remained the same this year.
      Oklahoma’s ACT results are similar to the scores from our state’s End-of-Instruction (EOI) exams for 2009.  Both show important details about college readiness of students in our state.  Sadly, the scores reflect a lack of rigor in some of our schools and indicate too many students are not taking advantage of all of the opportunities available in high school. 
      It is vital that students complete four years of rigorous courses in high school in order to be ready for both college and the workplace today.  We continue to face the challenge of making sure each student knows the importance of these courses and are on the path to success in the global economy.
      The Class of 2009’s SAT results have also been released.  The average combined score for students in Oklahoma public schools increased by 2 points going to 1,691 from 1,689:  reading increased to 572 from 570 as did writing at 552 from 550; and math scores dropped to 567 from 569 in 2008.
      The same cannot be said for the nation.  Scores declined in Critical Reading and Writing and remained unchanged in Math.  
      According to the College Board’s results, Oklahoma continues to have one of the highest average SAT scores in the nation, yet only a small percentage of students in our state participate versus the number of students taking the test in other states.
      With Oklahoma students taking more rigorous high school courses now, as we continue to implement the Achieving Classroom Excellence Act (ACE), we will see more students prepared for their future.
        
Read to a child – the benefits last a lifetime!
       




www.sde.state.ok.us


EDITORS: For more information, contact Shelly Hickman, State Department of Education, (405) 521-3371.