ACT scores reveal college potential for some students

Oklahoma’s class of 2018 had the most students ever to score 30 or better on the ACT. The highest possible score on the test is 36.

A record 1,842 students scored in the 30s, Lisa Nelson reported Thursday during a meeting of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.

Regents accepted the annual report on statewide ACT test scores, which serve as an indicator of how well students are prepared for college.

Oklahoma is one of 17 states where all students take the ACT, not just those with plans to attend college.

Some test-takers who didn’t intend to go to college change their mind when they see their scores, said Nelson, director of student preparation for the state’s higher education system.

That’s one of the positive outcomes of testing all students, said Debbie

Blanke, vice chancellor for academic and student affairs.

“Some students don’t realize how smart they are,” Blanke said. “They had no idea they were college material, and maybe they’ve been told they weren’t.”

The state Education Department began making the ACT test available to all students at no cost two years ago.

Testing 100 percent of students brings the average scores down. “Many have not prepared, so it does impact the results,” Blanke said.

The class of 2018 had 42,388 graduates with an average ACT composite score of 19.3. That’s down from 20.4 in 2016 when 82 percent of graduating seniors — about 32,000 students — took

the test.

Nationwide, the 2018 average composite score was 20.8. Oklahoma’s score was in the bottom third among states where 100 percent of 2018 graduates took the ACT.

The state regents have provided a pre-ACT test to all 10th-graders for 20 years, Blanke said.

“We give it early enough so students can know they are college material and they can then be thoughtful in the courses they take the rest of their high school experience so they are ready for college,” she said.

Voter registration awards

Regents recognized college voter registration efforts Thursday.

The annual voter registration contest is sponsored by the Oklahoma Campus Compact, an organization of 38 public and private colleges and universities focused on the importance of civic responsibility as an outcome of higher education.

Awards for in-state registrations were presented in four categories:

• Democracy (small institutions) — Eastern Oklahoma State College, winner; Seminole State College, runner-up.

• Liberty (1,501 to 3,000 students) — Langston University, winner; Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, runner-up.

• Equality (3,001 to 7,000 students) — East Central University, winner; Northeastern State University, runner-up.

• Independence (large institutions) — University of Oklahoma, winner; University of Central Oklahoma, runner-up.

Langston registered the most out-of-state students, and EOSC registered the highest proportion of out-of-state students.

Some students don’t realize how smart they are. They had no idea they were college material, and maybe they’ve been told they weren’t.” Debbie Blanke, vice chancellor for academic and student affairs