ACT Results Indicate Lowest College Preparedness in Three Decades
College readiness among students has plummeted to levels not seen in over three decades, reports the nonprofit responsible for overseeing the ACT exams.
In a startling revelation, the body disclosed that an unprecedented proportion of high school graduates, specifically more than 40%, failed to meet the essential criteria for college preparedness in 2023, an occurrence not witnessed since 1991.
This year’s scores represent the lowest in 32 years, contributing to a continuous six-year dip in average test results across all subjects, informed ACT’s CEO Janet Godwin. Alarmingly, there’s a widening gap as students’ self-reported readiness and rising GPAs don’t mirror their declining test scores.
ACT’s established college readiness standards serve as critical indicators, predicting a student’s ability to thrive in their initial year of college. However, there’s been a concerning slump in the average composite score, dropping to 19.5 in 2023 from 19.8 in the preceding year.
It’s important to consider the extraordinary circumstances surrounding this cohort of students, who commenced their high school journey during the pandemic. Their academic experience was marred by unprecedented disruptions, including full-scale school shutdowns, a sudden shift to virtual classrooms, and the introduction of strict health protocols within school premises.
Moreover, there’s been a significant 1.3 percentage point decrease in students who met all four ACT benchmarks, dwindling from 22.1% in 2022 to just 20.8% in 2023.
Godwin emphasized the urgent need for comprehensive strategies and policy-level interventions to address these educational crises. She stressed that the responsibility for reversing this downward trend doesn’t solely rest on educators’ shoulders. Instead, it necessitates collective, nationwide commitment and action, underscoring the critical nature of college and career readiness for every student’s future.
