The Wauwatosa School District racked up its highest composite score ever on the ACT test in the 2009-10 school year, but Superintendent Phil Ertl said the district shouldn't rest on its laurels because of the success.
Recently graduated seniors at the district's two public high schools scored a 24.1 on the 36-point college entrance exam, two points higher than the state composite and half a point higher than the composite score of Wauwatosa's 2008-09 test takers.
"We look at continuous improvement, and I think the composite score marks that," Ertl said. "It's critical that we continue to grow on that."
Statewide, public school students averaged 22.1 on the test, down from 22.2 last year. The national average was 21.
Sights set higher yet
District students increased performance in every category, with the biggest increases coming in math (23.9 to 24.6) and science (23 to 23.8).
The district's long-term goal is a composite average score of 26, Ertl said.
"I think the key is just constant improvement," he said.
Along with that, Ertl said, the district wants to reach a point where all students take the ACT test - no matter their post-graduation plans.
"Each and every student needs to be college-ready when they graduate, whether they plan to go to college or not," he said.
Overall, 353 students - 202 at East and 151 at West - took the exam, a decrease from 386 a year ago.
East sees big jump
At East, scores improved across all categories, including the composite score, which jumped nearly a full point from 23.6 to 24.5. The biggest individual increase was in science, where the average climbed from 22.9 in 2008-09 to 24.1 in 2009-10.
East Principal Nick Hughes called the results "a great performance" by the students. He said it also is a positive reflection on "what our teachers are doing in the classroom" in terms of preparation and class structure.
The test is one of a number of indicators the school uses to determine what's successful or what might need to be changed in various classes.
"We're really starting to use this data to figure out what we're doing well (and) where we might have gaps," Hughes said.
West students scored higher than their predecessors in every category except English, where the composite score dipped from 22.8 to 22.5. The overall composite score ticked up slightly, from 23.5 to 23.6.
West's biggest increase came in the math portion of the test; the average score went from 23.9 to 24.3.
AT A GLANCE
Wauwatosa School District's 2009-10 ACT scores (last year's scores in parentheses)
| Composite | Reading | English | Math | Science | |
| East HS | 24.5 (23.6) | 24.4 (24.2) | 24.1 (23) | 24.7 (24) | 24.1 (22.9) |
| West HS | 23.6 (23.5) | 23.6 (23.5) | 22.5 (22.8) | 24.3 (23.9) | 23.4 (23.2) |
| District | 24.1 (23.6) | 24.1 (23.8) | 23.4 (22.9) | 24.6 (23.9) | 23.8 (23) |
E-mail Newsletter
Your link to the biggest stories in the suburbs delivered Thursday mornings.
Enter your e-mail address above and click "Sign Up Now!" to begin receiving your e-mail newsletter
Get the Newsletter!
More from News and Features
- Business Calendar: Feb. 16-March 28
- Grab a Bite: One Way Cafe: A Tosa Village melting pot
- Teen accused of trying to rob four people
- Business Calendar: Feb. 15-25
- St. Jude embraces history
- Innovation Park road plan reviewed
- Fight in mall parking lot leads to charges (6)
- Police Report: Feb. 8
- Striking a balance between growth and green space
- It can't be business all the time
5 COMMENTS
-
0
0
Click thumb to rate
0
0
Please login to rate
Welcome to --------------- - http://www.newgoing.com
- Share
-
-
0
0
Click thumb to rate
0
0
Please login to rate
Hello! The burning hot summer arrived, this is the demonstration stature
- Share
-
-
0
0
Click thumb to rate
0
0
Please login to rate
YOU MUST NOT MISS IT!!!
- Share
-
-
0
0
Click thumb to rate
0
0
Please login to rate
Hello! The burning hot summer arrived, this is the demonstration stature
- Share
-
-
0
0
Click thumb to rate
0
0
Please login to rate
Good job kids and teachers!
- Share
-
Back to topchengmo - Sep 07, 2010 10:25 AM - Report Abuse
We are specialized in offering all kinds of top brand shoes, jeans, t-
shirts, bikini, swimwear, jacket, jerseys, watches, purses, handbags,
belts, wallets , sunglasses and hats etc.
Accept paypal ,All the prices list on our website include shipping
cost,insurance, tax etc..
$30 nike shoes,air jordan shoes,nike shox shoes,gucci shoes
$35 true religion jeans, ed hardy jeans,coogi jeans,afflictio n jeans,
Laguna Beach Jeans
$14 ed hardy T-shirts,Coogi T-shirts,Christ ian Audigier T-shirts,Gucci
T-shirts,Polo T-shirts.
$35 coach handbag,gucci handbag,prada handbag,chanel handbag.
fbs
lgugiui - Sep 06, 2010 8:02 AM - Report Abuse
good season,
the retreat winter sincere appearance, lets lithe, the individuality, the
fashion,
the sex appeal, mature you start from here! Has a good news to tell
everybody: Recently,
every bought full 200 US dollars in this company, then has the present to see
off,
Vietnam which buys delivers are more, please do not miss this good
opportunity!!!
welcome to :====== http://www.newgoing.com/ ====
free shipping
competitive price
any size available
accept the paypal
fdbvgfbsg
lgugiui - Sep 02, 2010 10:11 PM - Report Abuse
http://www.kogoal.com
Our company specializes in manufacturing from located in CHINA and
Netherlands,With more than 6 Years of experience,we are mainly dealing
with are:Nike shox,Christan Audigier t-sh irt,Ed Hardy,COACH Bag,New Era
cap ,Tiffany_Ring. More products.
Supply . COACH Bag,Nike shox.Ed Hardy t- sh irt.
Safe Payment.Paypal
Fast Shipment.5-7 days you can receive your order product.
No min order request.You can order only one product
Free Shipping.The price on our website are including
everything.
http://www.kogoal.com
kogoal,Inc. We are the best online dealer,about all kinds of jordan.run
retailing and wholesale trade wordwidely for years. Free Shipping And
Customs,Super Sale Off Retailing,With 1Week Delivery to your door.
http://www.kogoal.com
a leading worldwide w holesaler company (or ucan say organization). We
supply more than 100 thousand high-quality merchandise and famous brand
name products all at wholesale prices.
http://www.kogoal.com
fda
lgugiui - Sep 02, 2010 10:10 PM - Report Abuse
good season,
the retreat winter sincere appearance, lets lithe, the individuality, the
fashion,
the sex appeal, mature you start from here! Has a good news to tell
everybody: Recently,
every bought full 200 US dollars in this company, then has the present to see
off,
Vietnam which buys delivers are more, please do not miss this good
opportunity!!!
welcome to :====== http://www.newgoing.com/ ====
free shipping
competitive price
any size available
accept the paypal
fbs
BuckT - Aug 30, 2010 12:01 PM - Report Abuse
ACT scores are not the only important factors in determining a level of education but they go a long way towards college acceptance, etc.
For those who dismiss test scores as a poor indicator of performance I agree they only give a snapshot (or highlight those who are good test takers) of the information, but I still feel they are important since they are one of the few methods of comparing students across the state/nation on a common set of questions/standards.
As always, Go Tosa!!