Dougherty County’s average ACT score slips slightly

ALBANY — The Dougherty County School System’s 2017 composite ACT score dropped a tenth of a point, according to most recent numbers released by the Georgia Department of Education. The DCSS’s 2017 scores declined from 18.2 last year to 18.1 this year. The state average composite score is 21.4

The ACT and SAT are taken by high school juniors and seniors and used to determine a student’s college readiness.

“Based on the latest data from from ACT.org, we did see a slight dip in our composite ACT score district-wide from 18.2 to 18.1,” DCSS spokesman J.D. Sumner said, “but what what we also saw was a sharp decline in the number of students taking ACT, and, instead, taking the AccuPlacer and taking college courses while still in high school.

“This year we’re on track to have nearly 1,000 students taking college courses through the Dual Enrollment program, so the need for traditional college entrance exams is waning.”

Sumner said that is one reason the system is pushing dual-enrollment programs.

“Students are finding that they can take college courses and graduate high school with an associate’s degree and either stay and finish out a four-year program or transfer into a four-year program without an SAT or ACT score.”

Dougherty County School Superintendent Ken Dyer said the system isn’t downplaying the ACT.

“We are not as concerned about the ACT as we are trying to make sure our students are mastering content as directed by the state Department of Education,” Dyer said. “You also have to remember that dually-enrolled students still have to meet the academic requirement of the college or university he or she chooses.”

Overall, Georgia’s students showed continued improvement on the ACT in 2017, increasing the state’s average composite score and the percentage of students meeting the ACT College Readiness Benchmarks.

Georgia’s average composite score of 21.4 was higher for the second consecutive year and, for the second time in state history, was higher than the national average of 21. Georgia also outperformed the nation in English, reading, science and mathematics.

“Georgia students continue to increase their scores — and outpace the nation — on the ACT,” State School Superintendent Richard Woods said. “This is a testament to the hard work of Georgia’s students and educators as they enjoy greater flexibility and fewer state restrictions in the classroom.

“We are seeing our students’ performance trending upward on multiple indicators of academic achievement, and seeing positive signs like a four-percentage-point jump in the percentage of students meeting the College Readiness Benchmark for reading is encouraging as we continue to focus on literacy.”

Georgia students’ average composite score rose from 21.1 in 2016 to 21.4 in 2017, with all subject area scores increasing as well — from 20.7 to 21 in English, 20.6 to 20.9 in mathematics, 21.8 to 22 in reading, and 21 to 21.3 in science. All of these subject-area scores outpaced the national averages of 20.3 in English, 20.7 in mathematics, 21.4 in reading, and 21 in science.

In Dougherty County, Albany High averaged a composite score of 18, Dougherty High was at 15.9, Monroe High came in at 16.8 and Westover High notched a 19.8.

In area counties, Calhoun County averaged 16.7; Lee County, 19.9; Mitchell County, 18.7; Terrell County, 16.7; Tift County, 20.1, and Worth County, 17.8.

There were not enough test takers in Baker and Miller counties to come up with credible averages.