Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic High School Students' ACT Scores Exceed Illinois, Nation

Photo: Snapshot of Chicago Catholic high school students ACT test score growth.

Submitted by Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic Schools

For the fourth consecutive year, Catholic high school students in the Archdiocese of Chicago have demonstrated gains in the overall score and in nearly every subject area of the ACT test.

The average composite score for Catholic high school students in the Archdiocese is 23.3, which is 2.6 points above the state of Illinois’ average. It is also a 0.2 point improvement over students’ performance last year. While the state composite score has declined by 0.2 points over the past four years, Catholic school students have exhibited steady improvement in their composite scores with 0.6 point increase over the same four-year period. Across the board, Catholic high school students’ scores continue to be significantly above the average for the state of Illinois and the United States.

Catholic high school students in the Archdiocese demonstrated significant gains in English, improving from 23.5 to a score of 24.1 to outpace the state average by 3.8 points. Math scores remained stable at 22.3 and are 1.6 points ahead of the state. Science scores outperform the state average by 2.1 points and reading scores are above the state average by 2.5 points.

While Catholic high schools position their students for academic success, the emphasis is on work ethic, service, critical thinking, leadership skills and a solid moral foundation.

Ninety-eight percent of Catholic high school students graduate from high school and ninety-five percent attend college after graduation.

“This growth reflects our high schools’ commitment to strong teaching and learning in a Catholic culture of excellence,” said Sr. M. Paul McCaughey, OP, Superintendent of the Catholic Schools of the Archdiocese of Chicago. “Test scores do not say everything, but they do speak to strong parental, teacher, and student expectations.”

The Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic Schools serve close to 85,000 students in 247 schools across the city of Chicago, and Cook and Lake counties. Sixty percent of Catholic schools are stabilizing and increasing their student population. It is the United States’ largest private school system and the recipient of the most U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon Awards of any other system.

For more information or to locate a Catholic elementary or high school in Cook or Lake Counties, visit Catholic Schools of the Archdiocese of Chicago.