Nevada grads surpass national average on ACTs

Thursday, Aug. 17, 2000 | 8:56 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Nevada high school seniors have posted slightly higher scores than the national average on the ACT college entrance examination given this year.

The state Department of Education released the results today showing Nevada students achieved an overall average of 21.5 out of a possible 36 in English, math, reading and science. The national average was 21.

Mary Peterson, state superintendent of public instruction, said Nevada teachers and parents should be proud of the results.

"Our Nevada graduates continue to perform well academically when compared to the national figures for college-bound graduates," she said.

The 21.5 composite score was the same as last year but up from the 21.4 registered by Nevadans in 1998. The national average was also 21 last year.

Peterson said 5,752 students, or about 40.2 percent of the graduating class, took the examination. That's an increase of 212 students over 1999. Students who plan to go to college usually take the test.

Nevada students scored higher than the national average in all four subjects tested. Nevadans posted 20.7 in English, compared to the national 20.5; 21.4 in math compared to 20.7 nationally; 22.1 in reading compared to 22 nationally and 21.3 in science compared to 21 nationally.

"These subject areas are critical indicators of college preparation from high school and the results are encouraging," Peterson said. "The findings indicate the quality of education in each core subject that graduates have received in Nevada high schools."

She said students who complete classes in core subjects outscore those who do not take the core classes.

The ACT defines core college preparatory curriculum as four years of English, three years of mathematics, three years of science and three years of social studies. Nevada law requires students to have four years of English, two years of mathematics, two years of science and two years of social studies to graduate from high schools.

Students who took the core curriculum averaged 22.4 compared to 19.9 for those who did not take the college core classes.