LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The Arkansas Department of Education has released results for the 2019 ACT Aspire exam showing some improvement in English and mixed results in math, science and reading.
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that the percentage of students scoring at “ready” or “exceeding ready” levels in English and reading improved in four grades, but declined in four other grades.
Math and science scores improved slightly in all but fifth and sixth grades.
Students in grades three through 10 take the exams before the ACT college entrance exam is available for 11th-graders.
Education Commissioner Johnny Key says the results, released Monday, show the state is headed in the “right direction.”
Arkansas scores also varied compared to the national average. Just half of national eighth-graders scored “ready” or better in reading, compared with 53.2% of Arkansas eighth-graders.