“Do ACT scores predict college success?” Type those words into a Google search and you will uncover a mixed bag of research papers on the subject, but a significant majority of studies, including one by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), conclude that ACT scores do in fact correlate with college success. I believe that the October 18 front-page News-Press Now “Special Report” on the subject may send the wrong signal to college-bound students and their families. I believe that preparing for and earning a good score on the ACT matters a great deal in terms of success in college.
As a high school math teacher, I witness first-hand the fact that high school grades do not always accurately reflect student achievement. Standardized test scores complement student grade point averages to paint a more comprehensive picture of how much an individual student actually learned in secondary school, and help universities allocate scholarship money and other resources based on a student’s likelihood of success in college. There are some uncomfortable truths that SJSD students, parents, teachers, and administrators need to own up to.
First, many students cheat. In fact, if some were as good at academics as they are at cheating, we could probably solve world hunger or colonize Mars within a year or two. Second, many parents derive part of their own social status from their child’s class rank, and don’t mind leaning hard on teachers and administrators to get their way.
Third.
