2014-15 State of Education in Tennessee | Page 49

TENNESSEE 2014 COLLEGE READINESS BY SUBJECT AND GRADE Percent 0% 10% 20% 30% Explore (8th Grade) 40% 50% English 59% Reading 37% 28% 30% Math 17% 20% Science Plan (10th Grade) 60% 70% 80% ACT (11th Grade) 90% 100% 70% 70% 47% 49% 39% 28% 15% 15% 19% All Four Since becoming a requirement in 2010, Tennessee’s average ACT composite score has been below the national average. However, Tennessee’s gains on the ACT composite between the 2012-13 and 2013-14 school year were considered “noteworthy” by ACT officials.118 Starting in 2012-13, ACT made two important changes. First, the college readiness benchmarks were altered in reading and science to more accurately reflect readiness for college-level coursework. These adjustments changed the college readiness benchmarks in reading and science. Second, ACT included the scores for all students who had extended time on the exam in reporting. These changes should be considered when examining ACT data over time. ACT COMPOSITE SCORES 2009-10 TO 2013-14: TENNESSEE V. NATION Tennessee Nation 22 21 19 21.1 21.0 20 19.6 18 19.5 21.1 19.7 20.9 19.5 21.0 19.8 17 ACT Composite Score 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 (Range 1-36) 49