Oak Creek High School's ACT Scores Rising

students’ composite ACT score rose to 22.1 in the 2010-11 school year, nearing the state average of 22.2.

That score was up from 21.6 a year ago and marked the first time since the 2002-03 school year that OCHS scored above 22. Students improved in all four subjects – reading, math, science and English.

“We really have done a nice job of jumping up this past year compared to the state,” said Chad Evenson, the district’s curriculum coordinator. “We’ve seen a couple of little jumps in the past three years and we’re hoping we will continue to see those jumps.”

Oak Creek-Franklin School District administrators were pleased with the results. They said ACT scores are a “symptom” of the entire district, as strategies and curriculum implemented in elementary school are often seen years later as those students progress through school.

“As we see the numbers start to rise, those incremental changes are having a positive impact on the entire curriculum and the entire system,” Evenson said.

The rising scores in the past school year are particularly impressive considering that a higher percentage of students took the test. More than 63 percent of high school students took the ACT last year, compared to 58.9 percent the year before.

The percentage of Oak Creek students completing the ACT exam has steadily risen over the years, from 55.8 percent in 1999-2000 to 63.4 percent in 2010-11.