From the press release:
ACT, AP scores for Unit 4 exceed state average
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — College readiness among Champaign Unit 4 School District students is higher than average, according to recent reports on ACT® and Advanced Placement (AP) test scores.
The 2017 graduating classes of Central and Centennial high schools achieved an average composite score of 22.6 on the ACT college entrance exam, beating the state average of 21.4. A score of 21 or above is considered an indicator for college readiness, according to ACT.
The ACT consists of curriculum-based tests in English, math, reading and science to measure skills needed for success in first-year college coursework. Thirty-seven percent of Champaign students were considered college-ready in all four areas, exceeding the state average of 30%.
The state did not mandate the ACT for the class of 2017 as it transitioned to a state-funded SAT for the class of 2018. In this gap year with no state-funded entrance exam, Unit 4 administration prioritized efforts to help those who qualified apply for the ACT fee waiver to help as many college-bound students as possible take the test. A total of 403 students from the class of 2017 took the ACT, compared to 626 in 2016.
Champaign students’ above-average readiness for college is also evident in AP exam scores, which measure achievement in college-level AP courses. In 2017, Unit 4 students achieved a mean score of 3.30 out of 5, higher than the Illinois average of 3.03 and the U.S. and global averages of 2.84 and 2.86, respectively. Many universities grant placement and course credit for scores of 3 or higher.
AP achievement continues to be a focus for Unit 4. The total number of AP students (415) has nearly doubled since 2011, with enrollment among minority and low income populations the highest in six years. The number of Unit 4 students earning exam scores of 3+ has doubled since 2011.
“Unit 4 is committed to our students’ post-secondary success,” Deputy Superintendent Dr. Laura Taylor said. “These higher than average scores on the ACT and AP exams indicate that the students who will pursue college are academically prepared and poised for achievement.”
