Decatur seeks to improve ACT scores

Bryan Hembree, co-director of the University of Arkansas’ college access initiative, was the guest speaker at the Decatur High School’s ACT Preparedness seminar on Jan. 19.

Bryan Hembree, co-director of the University of Arkansas’ college access initiative, was the guest speaker at the Decatur High School’s ACT Preparedness seminar on Jan. 19.

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

— The ACT exam is a test you can prepare for, not an intelligence test, isthe message Bryan Hembree of the University of Arkansas drove home to a large crowd of parents and students in the Decatur HighSchool Cafeteria on Jan. 19.

Hembree, who serves as the co-director of the University of Arkansas’ college access initiative, was the guest speaker at the seminar hosted by the school. He said it is his job to help students make a smooth transition into college.

The ACT test is the most widely used test to measure a student’s college readiness in English, math, reading and science. College readiness, alongside increasing therigor and relevance of courses, has become a priority for Decatur superintendent Larry Ben.

All Decatur students take the testin their junior year and a high percentage of their scores show they are not ready for college. In contrast, the handful of students who take Smart Core courses at Decatur High School scorebetter than the state average.

College readiness is a statewide and national problem, according to Ben. Decatur’s college readiness, however, measures lower than its neighbors and more comparable to the delta region or southeast Arkansas, he said. Decatur’s rate of students who qualify for free and reduced lunches are also comparable to that region. Ben said there is a strong correlation between poverty rate and college readiness.

“But we can do better,” he said emphatically.

On Thursday, Hembree explained that the ACT test is a curriculum test, and the first step to preparation is taking the more difficult classes.

“The tougher a class students take, the more likely they will perform well,” Hembree said.

More than 40 percent of students in Arkansas only take the ACT test once and 60 percent don‘t take the test until their senior year. In contrast, 86 percent of U of A students started testing in their junior year or earlier and 55 percent of students who take the test more than once improve their score.

Hembree encouraged thinking about taking the exam as game-time experience.

“Think about anything in your life you’ve only done once and that was your best shot,” he said, suggesting that students should take the test at least three to four times over their junior and senior years.

With scholarship money on the line and the possibility of getting into a good school, it’s no wonder students feel pressured at test time. Learning what the test is all about and taking it more than once is therefore vital to performance, according to Hembree.

The right mind-set when taking the test is also important. Students often face the test with an attitude of fear and failure instead of feeling “pumped,” he explained, referring back to his basketball analogy.

“It’s not just about getting into the right school; it’s not just about scholarship dollars; it’s about finishing high school with a win,” he said.

Thursday’s seminar was one of many efforts the Decatur School District is making to improve college readiness.

Decatur students will be starting their second round of ACT prep courses for the year next week, according to high school counselor Nancy Cotter. They will be meeting three days a week for three weeks before the test.

Decatur teachers also met with Hembree at the Gentry school, where they analyzed test scores to see where student strengths and weaknesses lie and studied released ACT tests. The teachers even took parts of the ACT test to refresh in their memory what the test is like, Cotter said.

“That was eye-opening to some of the teachers, to know what the questions are all about,” she said.

In addition, the school has held several other workshops for teachers and formed an ACT improvement committee in which staff members meet and brainstorm for ways to improve student achievement.

Ultimately, the ACT test is just a measure of what Ben wants to see students better prepared for - college, jobs and a good quality of life.

The ACT test data shows that Decatur students are capable of doing good work and Decatur teachers are capable of taking them through it, according to Ben.

“If they’ll take the more rigorous courses, they will be better prepared,” Ben said.

News, Pages 1 on 02/08/2012