Dist. 204's ACT scores remain consistent

If standardized test results continue to be the bench mark for college success, most Indian Prairie Unit District 204 students appear to be well on their way.

The district released its ACT results this week, showing composite scores that remained stable at 23.4 of a possible 36. Last year's composite was 23.5.

The state average composite is 20.7 and the national average is 21.1.

Deputy Superintendent Kathryn Birkett called the tests the "best global indicator of achievement" for college-bound students while pointing out that the scores put the district in the top 8 percent in the nation.

"That one-tenth of a point decrease (in the district's composite score) is really insignificant from an educational standpoint," she said. "Our composite this year is still a pretty darn strong score considering 99 percent of our students took the exam."

Overall, there was little change in most subject scores at Neuqua Valley and Waubonsie Valley high schools.

Both schools made slight improvements in math, which Director of Research Patrick Nolten attributed to students "reaping the benefits" of the now-required third year of math instruction in high school. Neuqua's scores increased from 24.1 to 24.3 and Waubonsie's from 22.3 to 22.6.

English scores dipped slightly at both schools, from 22.8 to 22.3 at Waubonsie and 24.3 to 24 at Neuqua.

Science scores at Waubonsie remained almost the same, 22.1 compared to 22.2 last year. Neuqua Valley's science scores dropped four-tenths of a point, from 23.8 to 23.4.

Birkett said the information is currently being shared with administrators at both schools, who will continue to analyze the data and see where students need to improve. She was not concerned by Waubonsie Valley's scores, which ranked at least seven-tenths of a point below Neuqua in every category.

"We always look at our buildings. We look at them individually and we look at a lot of dynamics, particularly we look at all of our demographics. We look at our kids and how they scored earlier as they came through the system," she said. "Considering both high schools still remain in the top 8 percent in the nation, I'm happy with that."

Even greater shifts are expected in coming years when Metea Valley High School opens its doors to 3,000 students.

"I would not be surprised to see a change in the scores and the way that we do score across all three buildings when we add that third building because I think just logistically it will just change," Birkett said. "It would not surprise if there's some shift but we'll wait and see. There's never any guarantee."

By the numbers

Indian Prairie Unit District 204 has released its 2008 ACT scores. The scores reflect tests taken by the senior class that graduated this spring.

District totals

Composite: 23.4 (last year: 23.5)

English: 23.3 (23.7)

Math: 23.5 (23.3)

Reading: 23.4 (23.5)

Science: 22.8 (23.1)

Waubonsie Valley

Composite: 22.5 (last year: 22.6)

English: 22.3 (22.8)

Math: 22.6 (22.3)

Reading: 22.6 (22.6)

Science: 22.1 (22.2)

Neuqua Valley

Composite: 24.1 (last year: 24.2)

English: 24 (24.3)

Math: 24.3 (24.1)

Reading: 24 (24.2)

Science: 23.4 (23.8)

State avg. composite: 20.7

National avg. composite: 21.1

Source: Indian Prairie Unit District 204