Texas students make strides to success on college admissions test

The latest batch of college entrance exam scores suggest the state’s newest high school graduates are making strides in college readiness.

Though, some subjects remained a challenge for Texas seniors.

Students across the state gained in math and science but slipped in English and reading, according to the ACT’s College and Career Readiness Report released on Wednesday.

National performance on the ACT’s math and science portions stayed level.

Texas’ 2010 class also retained last year’s composite score of 20.8, while national performance slipped from 21.1 to 21.0.

The ACT gives scores between 1 and 36.

 “It’s a good confirmation that Texas is doing everything it can to prepare students for college,” said Suzanne Marchman, spokeswoman for the Texas Education Agency. “It was a nice surprise.”

Colleges frequently use the ACT scores as an admissions standard. More than 92,500 Texas seniors took the test last year -- a 12 percent jump from 2009.

Marchman said the increase is evidence that students are becoming more prepared for higher education.

“The agency and state Legislature advocates all students becoming college ready,” she said. “ACT provides a pathway and foot in the door. More students taking the test puts them one step closer.”

To gauge “official” college readiness, ACT measures benchmark scores in the four subjects, and Texas matched the national average of 24 percent of students successfully meeting the standard.

South Texas already works to improve every student’s college readiness, said Magdalena Hinojosa, dean of admissions at the University of Texas-Pan American.

“Kudos to the school districts and our combined outreach,” Hinojosa said. “Together, we have created the college-going culture. Students understand not only is college attainable, it’s a must.”

The ACT report also showed that out of all Texas universities to which students sent their test scores, UTPA received the eighth-highest amount.

That rank and higher scores showed South Texans rising to the challenge, Hinojosa said.

More than 40 percent of students at UTPA needed remedial courses in fall 2004. Five years later, only 23.9 percent of students did.

Hinojosa expects another decrease when 2010’s numbers come out in a few weeks.

“We’re seeing it in our students coming to us prepared and avoiding remediation,” she said. “Instructors, especially those that have been here for a while, say they do see a difference in the caliber of students.”

_____

Neal Morton covers education and general assignments for The Monitor. He can be reached at (956)314-0896.