Gwinnett County Public School students continue to outperform their peers in the state and across the country on the ACT exam. According to scores released today, Gwinnett’s scores dipped slightly from last year’s scores, which came in at a five-year high.
The ACT test assesses high school students’ general educational development and their ability to successfully complete college-level work. The four skill areas covered with multiple-choice tests are: English, mathematics, reading, and science. An optional writing test measures skill in planning and writing a short essay.
The highest score possible is 36.
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In Gwinnett, last year’s test-takers posted an average composite score of 22.4 compared to 21.4 for the state and 20.7 for the nation. In addition, Gwinnett students continue to outperform the state and nation in English, reading, science, and mathematics.
2018-19 ACT Results Comparison
National
English: 20.1
Mathematics: 20.4
Reading: 21.2
Science: 20.6
Composite: 20.7
Georgia
English: 20.1
Mathematics: 20.7
Reading: 22.2
Science: 21.2
Composite: 21.4
Gwinnett
English: 21.7
Mathematics: 22.2
Reading: 22.8
Science: 22.4
Composite: 22.4
A review of local school results show that six Gwinnett schools increased their average composite scores from 2017-18 to 2018-19. Those high schools are: Central Gwinnett; Discovery; Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology; Mountain View; Shiloh and South Gwinnett.
Countywide, GSMST had the highest average score with a 29.4 composite score.
In addition, ACT scores at Meadowcreek High School remained unchanged even as the number of participants increased. Other schools seeing increases in participation included Dacula, Discovery, GSMST, Gwinnett Online Campus, North Gwinnett, and Phoenix.
This past year 4,557 Gwinnett students took the test. In Georgia, 57,431 students took the test and across the nation, 2,030,038 students took the test.
The ACT is a test used by colleges and universities to predict how well students will perform at the post-secondary level. Students are encouraged to take the ACT as well as the SAT college admission exam to provide a broad range of information for college admissions counselors.
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