MCPASD students near the top of ACT scores

It was another successful year for Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District seniors who took the ACT.

The district's composite score was 25.5, which was the third-highest average in the state in 2011-12.

The state average composite score was 22.1. The only districts with higher ACT averages than MCPASD were Kohler (27.6) and Whitefish Bay (25.9). Middleton had 362 seniors take the ACT last year, while Whitefish Bay had 175 and Kohler had just 26.

About 68 percent of the 518 seniors who were enrolled in the school district took the ACT in 2011. Of districts with at least 250 seniors, only Cedarburg, Elmbrook, Franklin, Germantown, Glendale Nicolet, Greenfield, Hartland Arrowhead, Menomonee Falls, Mequon-Thiensville, Milwaukee, Mukwonago, New Berlin, River Falls, Sussex Hamilton, Waterford, Wauwatosa and West Bend had a higher percentage of students take the ACT.

Madison Metropolitan had the next highest average among Big Eight schools with a 23.7, while Verona was at 23. Verona had 67.4 percdent of its seniors take the exam, while Sun Prairie was at 61 percent.

The composite average tied the highest ever recorded by MCPASD students, which was first set in 2011.

Ninety-three percent of MCPASD students showed preparedness for college level English, compared to the state average of 75 percent. While 54 percent of state students are ready for college level algebra, the MCPASD average was 82 percent.

About 80 percent of MCPASD students are college-ready for social science, compared to the state average of 59 percent. Finally, 63 percent of MCPASD students area ready for college level biology, while the state average is 38 percent.

Of the top three districts, MCPASD had by far the highest percent of economically disadvantaged students at 15.8 percent out of more than 6,440 students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. Kohler was at 0 percent out of more than 600 students, while Whitefish Bay was at 2.3 percent out of approximately 3,000 students. Studies have shown that students who come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds typically score lower on tests.

Wisconsin students were tied for second in the nation in ACT average score. Minnesota was first with 22.8, while Wisconsin and Iowa were at 22.1. The national average was 21.1.

The ACT is a series of tests in English, math, science and reading. The ACT is used by many colleges as a factor in determining who is accepted to a school.