Maine Scores 3rd Highest in the Nation on ACT Education Test
August 19, 2009 -
AUGUSTA – In a report released today from ACT, the college preparatory program, Maine scored 3rd highest in the nation on their college readiness test.
“This is an incredible achievement. The scores illustrate how prepared our college bound students are and reflects the dedication of our teachers statewide,” Senator Justin Alfond (D-Cumberland County), Senate Chair of the Education Committee commented.
ACT is an independent, not-for-profit organization with 50 years of providing assessment, research, information, and program management services in the broad areas of education and workforce development. ACT’s goal is to help students transition into higher education and the world’s workforce through testing at various grade levels. These tests determine a student’s strengths and weaknesses.
“Students must be prepared for what comes next in their lives, whether it is college or entering the workforce,” Senator Justin Alfond said. “Assessments like ACT’s help our Maine schools determine where we are succeeding and where we need to ramp up our efforts to help our students achieve. Unfortunately, Maine students are last in New England in earning a higher education degree. Though many of our graduating students go on to college or professional training programs, barely half of those students actually complete their education and earn a degree. Maine has much work to do in this area.”
1,438 Maine graduates took the ACT test in 2009, scoring .4 points higher than last year. Two Maine students received a perfect score on the test.
