BY AMY ROSE
STAFF WRITER
The Greeneville City School System has been celebrating its recently released 2011 ACT scores, which are the highest in five years.
Greeneville High School's average composite score for the college entrance exam was 22.9, compared with the state's score of 19.5 and the nation's score of 21.1.
This average composite for GHS is up .9 from last year's score of 22.0.
The 2009 average composite for GHS was 22.8.
A new requirement in 2010 mandated that all students -- not just college-bound students -- take the ACT exam.
Even before the new requirement, GHS traditionally had a large percentage of its students who took the ACT exam.
When the new rule took effect, the state average composite dropped an entire point, from 20.6 in 2009 to 19.6 in 2010.
The ACT exam covers four subject areas: English, mathematics, reading and science.
GHS's average scores were up in all four subjects this year:
* In English, GHS's average score was 22.7, compared with 21.8 last year;
* In mathematics, GHS's average score was 22.8, compared with 21.6 last year;
* In reading, GHS's average score was 23.2, compared with 22.3 last year; and
* In science, GHS's average score was 22.5, compared with 21.9 last year.
The state's averages in the four subject areas were: English, 19.4; mathematics, 19.0; reading, 19.7; and science, 19.4.
The maximum ACT score is 36. A score of 19 is required to enter most colleges and universities without remedial courses.
Director of Schools Dr. Lyle Ailshie attributed GHS's ACT scores to the hard work of the school system's teachers.
"It all goes back to what happens in the classroom," he said. "We've been celebrating a lot."
Assistant Director of Schools Suzanne Bryant agreed, stating, "We're so proud of our teachers."
COLLEGE READINESS
A key component of the ACT results is how they measure the percentage of students who are considered to be college-ready.
Greeneville has 38 percent of its students who meet the benchmarks in the four subject areas to be college-ready.
Statewide, 15 percent of students are college-ready for the four subject areas.
In the individual subject areas, GHS has college-ready percentages of: English, 82; algebra, 62; social science, 67; and biology, 41.
This compares with the state's college-ready percentages of: English, 58; algebra 27; social science, 41; and biology 20.
A benchmark score is the minimum score needed on an ACT subject-area test to indicate a 50 percent chance of obtaining a B or higher or about a 75 percent chance of obtaining a C or higher in the corresponding credit-bearing college courses.
These benchmark scores are: English, 18 on the English test; algebra, 22 on the mathematics test; social science, 21 on the reading test; and biology, 24 on the science test.
For more information on the ACT exam, visit http://www.act.org.
