The ACT has released the average test scores for the Class of 2023, marking a significant and concerning drop in national averages. According to the ACT nonprofit organization, this year’s graduating class earned an average score of 19.5 out of 36, down 0.3 from last year’s average of 19.8. Last year’s average marked the first time in over 30 years that the average fell below the crucial 20-point threshold. This year’s continued decline makes this average the lowest since 1991.
The ACT is composed of four sections evaluating English, math, reading, and science, with each section scored on a scale of 1 to 36, contributing to the overall composite score. Approximately 1.4 million students from the class of 2023 took the test.. The English section, with the lowest average at 18.6, saw a decline of 0.4 points since 2022. The math section, likewise, saw a 0.3-point decrease from last year’s scores from 19.3 to 19.0. Even the highest-scoring sections—reading and science—saw declines of 0.3 points.
National averages have exhibited a consistent downward trend over the past six years, which was accelerated due to the ongoing impact of lost learning during the pandemic. The class of 2023 has been uniquely impacted by the pandemic, as they were freshmen in high school when Covid lockdowns began.
This decline in the national average score raises concerns about students’ preparedness for higher education. The 2023 score average indicates a growing number of high school graduates failing to meet the ACT College Readiness Benchmarks, which serve as a vital metric for assessing students’ readiness for success in first-year college coursework. According to the ACT press release, only 20.8% of students who took the test successfully met all the College Readiness Benchmarks—down from 22.1% last year and 25% in 2021. Meanwhile, a significant 43.3% fell short in meeting any benchmarks, marking an increase from the 41.6% in 2022 and 38% in 2021.
The diminishing ACT scores suggest that colleges and institutions of higher learning face the complex and ongoing challenge of addressing the learning gaps and unmet educational needs of incoming students. In a press release, ACT CEO Janet Godwin stated: “The hard truth is that we are not doing enough to ensure that graduates are truly ready for postsecondary success in college and career. These systemic problems require sustained action and support at the policy level. This is not up to teachers and principals alone – it is a shared national priority and imperative.”
The decreasing scores underscore the importance of flexible and adaptable educational systems that can meet the diverse needs of students and ensure their preparedness for the demands of higher education.
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