Nev. still seeing low college readiness ACT test scores

State Superintendent Steve Canavero says he was disappointed and frustrated by this year’s ACT test scores.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that the average ACT score in Nevada stayed at 17.4 out of 36 points for the third consecutive year. Canavero said Tuesday that those numbers were unacceptable.

State officials say only 10 percent of the test takers received scores high enough to consider them college ready under the exam’s standards. But a reason for that is its juniors who are taking the test, so many are taking the test for the first time and many of those students wouldn’t be considered college prep students.

All juniors in Nevada are required to take the ACT test. It’s obviously hoped those students will do better on college prep tests as seniors. Many educators are also calling for an alternative test for students who are heading toward a career technical education path and not toward a traditional college education.

Results for the Carson City School District were mixed. Carson High’s scores remained above the state average at 18.0, but fell from 18.4 in 2016. Scores for Pioneer High students fell from 15.3 to 14.7.

According to the Nevada Department of Education, average ACT test scores in Clark County rose slightly this year from 16.9 to 17.2. Eureka County had the highest scores among all Nevada public school districts with an 18.9 average score.

The state hopes to bring the average ACT score up to 20 by 2022.

For the ACT, the benchmark score is 18 in English, 22 in Algebra (math), 22 in social science (reading) and 23 in biology (science). Students who score at least that high on the test are projected to be successful in similar subjects when they attend college.