There has been a lot of concern about student achievement since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially with many students forced out of the classroom and on-line for remote learning. And while the number of students taking the ACT test has decreased both in state and across the country, Georgia students continue to perform well on the standardized test.
According to information released by the Georgia Department of Education, while the national average score on the test dropped for the Class of 2021, the state’s average score increased and for the fifth year in a row, Georgia students topped the national average.
The ACT is a standardized test used for college admissions in the United States that covers four academic skill areas: English, mathematics, reading, and scientific reasoning, with an optional direct writing test. The purpose of the ACT test is to measure a high school student’s readiness for college and provide colleges with one common data point that can be used to compare all applicants.
According to information released Thursday, Georgia’s class of 2021 recorded an average composite score of 22.6, compared to the national average of 20.3. Georgia students’ average score increased – from 21.7 in 2020 – while the national average fell slightly, from 20.6 in 2020.
“Georgia’s students continue to achieve gains on the ACT and other national exams, and I am enormously proud of them,” said State School Superintendent Richard Woods. “Despite the impact of the pandemic, we have seen our students, teachers, and schools display great resilience and continue to work hard and succeed.”
The percentage of Georgia students in the class of 2021 meeting all four of ACT’s College Readiness benchmarks – 36 percent – was also higher than the national average of 25 percent, and increased in all subject areas.
The number of students in the class of 2021 who took the ACT is down both nationally and in Georgia – from 45,913 in 2020 to 29,202 in 2021 in Georgia, and from 1,670,497 to 1,295,349 nationally, and many believe this is a result of the pandemic. It could also be the result of the temporary waiver of SAT/ACT score requirements for University System of Georgia admissions, officials said. However, while participation dropped, the demographics of participants remained stable in Georgia.
All scores are based on 2021 high school graduates who took the ACT at some time from grades 10 to 12.
