Small schools report ACT scores for 2016

Last year’s graduates from seven of the 10 smaller rural public high schools in Benton and Washington counties earned higher average composite ACT scores than the state average.

Scores for 2016 exceeded the state average in Elkins, Farmington Career Academies, Greenland, Gravette, Prairie Grove, Pea Ridge and West Fork, according to results reported by the districts. Average composite ACT score for those high schools ranged from a 20.7 at Greenland High School to a 21.9 at West Fork High School.

Average composite ACT scores for the Classes of 2016 were 16.6 for Decatur, 17.7 for Lincoln and 20.1 for Gentry. The statewide average ACT composite score was 20.2 for the 28,120 students last year’s graduating classes.

The freshmen through senior enrollments in the 10 schools in 2015-16 ranged from about 150 students at Decatur High School to about 720 students combined in the Farmington Freshman Academy and Farmington Career Academies.

Scores for Decatur, Greenland, Lincoln and West Fork weren’t available at the end of August when the results were first reported by area schools.

ACT scores improved for the Class of 2016 in West Fork, Principal John Crowder said. Crowder was concerned about a downward trend in ACT performance and worked with his staff to develop strategies to improve student performance on the exam, he said.

The downward trend stopped, performance is better and the class’ average of 21.9 beat the state average, he said.

“Our improvement in ACT scores was intentional,” Crowder said. “Are we where we want to be? No.”

ACT is a college entrance exam taken by students across the country. The ACT consists of tests in English, mathematics, reading and science with scores of each test combined into a composite score. The highest possible score is a 36. Students earning below a 19 in English, math or reading are subject to remedial courses in college, according to Arkansas Department of Higher Education policy.

Lincoln’s ACT participation has increased in five years from 59 students tested in the Class of 2012 to 100 students tested in the Class of 2016, with the high school also now testing all students, instead of just those who were college-bound, Principal Courtney Jones said. The 2012-13 year was the first year the whole school took the ACT.

“I think we will see a change in scores over time as we prepare all of the students to take the ACT,” she said.

Gentry students typically mirror the performance of their peers statewide, give or take a few points, Superintendent Randy Barrett has said. Gentry also had more students take the ACT in 2016 than in 2102.

More students are taking the ACT at Decatur High School since the district in 2015 started including all students in ACT testing, Superintendent Jeff Gravette said. Just 16 students took the ACT in 2012, compared with 34 in 2015 and 28 in 2016. The average composite score has dropped, though, from 18.9 for the Class of 2012 to 16.6 for the Class of 2016.

“Our hope is some of the students that didn’t previously take the test will use it as a step toward post-secondary education,” Gravette said.