Smiths Station's ACT scores drop along with state; Central High's scores still not released
By MARK RICE
mrice@ledger-enquirer.com
As expected, Smiths Station High School's 2015 ACT scores followed Alabama's statewide trend by dropping in every category as compared to 2014.
That's because this was the first year Alabama mandated all 11th-graders take the ACT, using it as an accountability measure for school performance. So while 100 percent of Alabama's 2015 public high school graduates took the ACT, only 58 percent of them took that college entrance exam in Georgia, where the SAT is preferred.
Last month, when the ACT released this year's results on the national and state levels, the Ledger-Enquirer also reported the composite scores for the local high schools in Georgia, but the local Alabama scores weren't available. The Georgia Department of Education provides the local information in its state, but the Alabama State Department of Education relies on the local school districts to release their scores.
The Ledger-Enquirer reported Russell County's ACT scores last week, and Lee County superintendent Mac McCoy released Smiths Station's this week. Phenix City Public Schools hasn't released Central High School's scores despite the L-E's repeated requests, including one Tuesday filed under Alabama's Open Records Law.
Phenix City superintendent Randy Wilkes has sent the L-E an analysis of Central High School's ACT results but not the scores.
Smiths Station High principal Joaquin Richards noted that although the school's overall scores decreased and continue to lag behind the state and national averages, the 11th-grade scores increased in every subject.
"I am very encouraged by the increase in scores over last year's," he wrote in an email to the L-E. "Any time that you can show improvement as a school, it's certainly something to celebrate. I feel it has a direct correlation to having quality teachers that are providing quality instruction." Smiths Station accepts the new challenge of having every student take the ACT, Richards said.
"We have also been given a clear direction from our District Leaders to be the best in the state," he wrote in the email. "They support us and provide us with the resources necessary to be an effective instructional institution. I have been given the opportunity to surround myself with good administrators, great teachers and the support staff to create a safe and positive learning environment for our students."
Mark Rice, 706-576-6272. Follow him on Twitter@MarkRiceLE.ACT COMPOSITE SCORES
School 2014 2015 +/-
Central 18.6 NA NA
Russell 17.8 17.3 -0.5
Smiths 19.9 18.5 -1.4
Alabama 20.6 19.1 -1.5
Nation 21.0 21.0 --ACT ENGLISH SCORESSchool 2014 2015 +/-
Central 18.1 NA NA
Russell 17.1 16.6 -0.5
Smiths 19.6 18.0 -1.6
Alabama 20.7 18.8 -1.9
Nation 20.3 20.4 +0.1ACT MATH SCORESSchool 2014 2015 +/-
Central 17.9 NA NA
Russell 17.5 16.8 -0.7
Smiths 19.0 18.1 -0.9
Alabama 19.5 18.4 -1.1
Nation 20.9 20.8 -0.1ACT READING SCORESSchool 2014 2015 +/-
Central 19.5 NA NA
Russell 18.3 17.9 -0.4
Smiths 20.5 18.9 -1.6
Alabama 21.3 19.7 -1.6
Nation 21.3 21.4 +0.1ACT SCIENCE SCORESSchool 2014 2015 +/-
Central 18.5 NA NA
Russell 17.7 17.4 -0.3
Smiths 20.1 18.5 -1.6
Alabama 20.4 19.1 -1.3
Nation 20.8 20.9 +0.1
This story was originally published September 11, 2015 at 5:43 PM with the headline "Smiths Station's ACT scores drop along with state; Central High's scores still not released ."