Oconomowoc, WI – August 19, 2014. The 2014 ACT results are in, and Oconomowoc High School students achieved the best composite scores in the past eight years at 23.5. Click here to download the complete press release and data.
Superintendent Dr. Roger Rindo praised the results, stating, "In our region, the ACT is the most commonly used benchmark for college readiness, and Wisconsin has traditionally performed among the top states in the country. Oconomowoc students significantly outperformed the state in each tested area as well as the composite score. That is a strong statement about the caliber of our students and the quality of programs and teachers in our schools.”
In addition, results showed that 41% of OHS students met all four college readiness benchmarks (College-level English Composition, College Algebra, College Social Science and College Biology), compared to 34% of students statewide. Notably, 88% of OHS students who took the ACT reached college readiness benchmarks for English Composition.
For the past several years, the OASD has worked diligently to prepare high school students for the ACT. Director of Research, Technology & Assessment Dr. Derick Kiger noted, “We realigned our high school assessments a couple of years ago in anticipation of Wisconsin’s College and Career Readiness / ACT Aspire implementation.”
Beginning in 9th grade, students take the ACT Explore, 10th-graders take the ACT Plan, and 11th-graders take the ACT Practice. These tests to help prepare students to take the ACT before graduation. In the spring of the 2014-15 school year, all 11th-graders in Wisconsin will take the ACT and the WorkKeys tests, while freshman and sophomores will take the ACT Aspire.
Another factor contributing to the improvement in scores is that students continue to have access to rigorous and challenging coursework, with 12 Advanced Placement (AP) classes and 17 International Baccalaureate (IB) classes offered at OHS. Principal Joseph Moylan said, “The more students challenge themselves with high level coursework, the better prepared they are for college and careers in the future. Our growing number of students who are taking AP and IB courses are seeing the benefit of challenging themselves.”
