More Racine Unified Students Take ACT, Scores Down Slightly

**Updated 8:30 a.m.

Despite more students taking the ACT last year, 's average score went down slightly.

According to a press release from the district, Unified students' average composite score was 20.2 in 2012, down from 20.6 in 2011. State scores average in at 22.1 while the national average is 21.1. Only students at Walden III High School exceeded both of those numbers, coming in with an average composite score of 22.4.

The highest score possible on the ACT is a composite score of 36.

More students than ever before took the exam. A total of 748 students participated in the ACT in 2012, up from 742 in 2011. Hispanic participation increased the most, from 86 in 2011 to 142 in 2012, a 60 percent increase from year-to-year.

“We are encouraged to see increased participation in the ACT exam,” said RUSD Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Education Dr. Bethel Cager in the release. “We are, however, disappointed to see a slight decrease in our average composite scores."

This summer, 77 students took the district's free, online ACT prep class led by teachers trained and certified by Princeton Review, and officials are hoping to see higher scores as a result.

on the ACT when the scores at Park, Case, Horlick and Walden were considered. The state Department of Public Instruction posted the scores for the Class of 2012 early Wednesday morning. Figured in parentheses are the 2011 scores:

• Case: 208 of 532 seniors; Avg. score = 20.7 (21.3)
• Horlick: 204 of 529 seniors; Avg. score = 19.9 (19.9)
• Park: 239 of 558 seniors; Avg. score = 19.4 (19.9)
• REAL School: 24 of 27 seniors; Avg. score = 20.9 (22.2)
• Walden III: 64 of 74 seniors; Avg. score = 22.4 (22.7)

Also, RUSD started EXPLORE testing in eighth and ninth grades and PLAN tests in tenth grade as a tool for determining college readiness. But the test scores are also designed to help educators map coursework for students to better prepare them for college.

Patch will be in touch with Racine Unified on Wednesday to get more details about EXPLORE, PLAN and how prep classes can help improve college readiness and scores.