For the sixth year in a row, Duluth public school students scored better than state and national averages on the American College Test (ACT) entrance exam. Duluth public school students' average composite score of 22.9 compares to a state average of 22.0 and a national average of 20.8.
"Overall results show Duluth public school students once again scoring above state and national averages," said Rex Hein, director of curriculum, assessment and staff development for Duluth public schools. "They also show that students who take core courses do better on the test than those who don't."
Core courses are a recommended set of high school courses: 4 credits English, 3 credits science, 3 credits math and 3 credits social studies. Hein said students who take core courses score two to three points higher than students who don't.
National State Duluth
1997-98 21.0 22.2 22.8
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1998-99 21.0 22.1 22.3
1999-00 21.0 22.0 22.9
2000-01 21.0 22.1 22.7
2001-02 20.8 22.1 22.8
2002-03 20.8 22.0 22.9
The ACT consists of tests in English, mathematics, reading and science reasoning, and is one criterion used by colleges to evaluate a student's probable success at the college level. ACT results are accepted by virtually all U.S. colleges and universities
