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Districts to help fund charter school?
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This year marks the 25th anniversary of the landmark report, A Nation at Risk.
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In the 2007-08 school year, Utah spent $8,224 per public school student.
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Charter schools are independent public schools run by parents or non-profits.
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The average class size in Utah is 22.2
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High school students can graduate with an associate's degree and a scholarship worth 75% of college tuition.
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2009 ACT Results

Last Updated (Tuesday, 30 November 1999 00:00)

The results for the 2009 ACT test scores just became available.  Overall, Utah scored barely above the U.S. average.  Only 25% of Utah students who took the ACT test are ready for college English, Algebra, Social Science, and Biology.

The purpose of the ACT is to assess high school students' ability to complete college-level work. Almost all US colleges and universities require high school students to either submit their ACT or SAT score as part of their application.

Average ACT Scores, 2003 to 2008

Year

% of Graduates Tested
Average Composite Score
  Average English Score
Average Math Score
Average Reading Score
Average Science Score
2009Utah 68
21.8
  21.4
21.1
22.6
21.6
 U.S.4521.1
  20.621.021.420.9
2008
Utah
68
21.8   21.421.1
22.5 21.6
 U.S.
4321.1  20.6
21.0
21.4
20.8
2007
Utah 7021.7
  21.3
21.1
22.2
21.6
 U.S.
4221.2  20.7 21.021.521.0
2006
Utah
6921.7
   21.2 21.022.421.6
 U.S.
40
21.1
  20.6
20.8
21.420.9
2005
Utah
68
21.5   21.1 21.022.221.4
 U.S. 4020.9
   20.4 20.7 21.3 20.9
2004
Utah
67
21.5   20.9 20.922.2 21.4
 U.S.
 4020.9
   20.4 20.7 21.3 20.9
2003Utah
67
21.3  20.7
20.7
22.0
 21.4
 U.S.
40
 20.8  20.3
 20.621.220.8

Table Notes:

  • Score Scale: 0 to 36. 50% of students score 21 or higher. The top 1% score above 33. The bottom 1% score below 12.

In the class of 2009, 68% of Utah graduates took the American College Test or ACT. Of those, 25% are ready for college English, Algebra, Social Science, and Biology.

College Readiness, 2003 to 2008

Year

% Ready for All Four
% Ready for College English
% Ready for College Algebra
% Ready for College Social Science
% Ready for College Biology
  % of Graduates Tested
2008
Utah
25
7344
63
32
  68
 U.S.2367425328  45
2008
Utah
25
7544
60
32
  68
 U.S.
22
68
43
53
28
  43
2007
Utah 24
74
43
57
30
  70
 U.S.
23
69
43
53
28
  42
2006
Utah
24
74
43
60
31
  69
 U.S.
2169
42
53
27
  40
2005
Utah
23
73
43
58
30
  68
 U.S.21
68
41
51
26
  40
2004
Utah
22
72
42
58
29
  67
 U.S.
21
68
40
52
26
  40
2003Utah
22
71
41
57
28
  67
 U.S.
20
67
40
52
26
  40
Table Notes:
  • College Readiness: The ACT reports College Readiness Benchmark Scores, a measure of how well students are prepared for college coursework. A benchmark score is the minimum score needed on an ACT subject-area test to indicate a 50% chance of obtaining a B or higher or about a 75% chance of obtaining a C or higher in the corresponding credit-bearing college courses, which include English Composition, Algebra, Social Science and Biology. These scores were empirically derived based on the actual performance of students in college.

For more info...

Related News

 

 

REPORT - The Second Derivative: International Benchmarks in Mathematics for U.S. States and School Districts

Last Updated (Tuesday, 30 November 1999 00:00)

The Second Derivative: International Benchmarks in Mathematics for U.S. States and School Districts

  • Author: American Institutes for Research
  • Date: June 2009
  • Topics: Test Scores, International Tests, National Tests, TIMSS, NAEP
  • Synopsis: Lines NAEP scores (a national test) to TIMSS scores (an international test) to show how U.S. states compare to other nations on international tests.  The study found that Utah students earned a C in 8th grade math, which is right at the U.S. average and a few points below the average for developed countries.  This represents "a huge achievement gap" between the top scoring countries and Utah.

Read the Report>>
Report Press Release>>

RELATED NEWS

 

International Test Scores - TIMSS 2007

Last Updated (Tuesday, 30 November 1999 00:00)

TIMSS
Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study

  • Purpose: To provide reliable and timely data on the mathematics and science achievement of U.S. students compared to that of students in other countries.
  • Enactment Date: 1995
  • Grades Tested: Varies between 4th, 8th, and 12th grades (12th graders were only tested in 1995)
  • Frequency: Every 4 years
  • Subjects Tested: Math and science
  • Participating Nations: Varies from year to year (48 countries participated in 2007). See a complete list>>
  • Test Website: http://nces.ed.gov/TIMSS/

TIMSS Test Results Overview

Average Scores and Rankings, 8th Grade, TIMSS 2007
National Center for Education Statistics

In Math, the U.S. ranked 9th overall and 7th out of 15 countries with advanced economies.
  In Science, the U.S. ranked 11th overall and 9th out of 15 countries with advanced economies.
          
MATH
  SCIENCE
Rank
Country
Advanced
Economy
Score
  RankCountry Advanced
Economy
Score
1
Taiwanx
598
  1
Singapore
x
567
2
South Korea
x
597
  2
Taiwanx
561
3
Singapore
x
593
  3
Japan
x
554
4
Hong Kongx
572
  4
South Korea
x
553
5
Japan
x
570
  5
England
x
542
6
Hungary 517
  6
Hungary
 539
7
England
x
513
  7
Czech Republicx
539
8
Russia
 512
  8
Slovenia
x
538
9
United States
x
508
  9
Hong Kong
x
530
10
Lithuania 506
  10
Russia
 530
11
Czech Republic
x
504
  11
United States
x
520
12
Slovenia
x
501
  12
Lithuania
 519
--
AVERAGE
 500
  13
Australia
x515
13
Armenia
 499
  14
Sweden
x
511
14
Australia
x
496
  --
AVERAGE 500

15

Sweden
x
491
  15
Scotlandx
496
16
Malta
 488
  16
Italyx
495
17
Scotland
x
487
  17
Armenia 488
18
Serbia
 486
  18
Norwayx
487
19
Italy
x480
  19
Ukraine 485
20
Malaysia
 474
  20
Jordan 482
21
Norway
x469
  21
Malaysia 471
22
Cyprus 465
  21
Thailand 471
23
Bulgaria
 464
  23
Serbia 470
24
Israel
x
463
  23
Bulgaria 470
25
Ukraine
 462
  25
Israelx
468
26
Romania
 461
  26
Bahrain 467
27
Bosnia
 456
  27Bosnia 466
28Lebanon
 449
  28
Romania 462
29
Thailand
 441
  29
Iran 459
30
Turkey
 432
  30
Malta 457
31
Jordan
 427
  31
Turkey 454
32
Tunisia
 420
  32
Syria 452
33
Georgia
 410
  32
Cyprus 452
34
Iran
 403
  34
Tunisia 445
35
Bahrain
 398
  35
Indonesia 427
36
Indonesia
 397
  36
Oman 423
37
Syria 395
  37
Georgia 421
38
Egypt 391  38
Kuwait 418
39
Algeria
 387  39
Colombia 417
40
Colombia
 380  40
Lebanon 414
41
Oman
 372  41
Egypt 408
42
Palestine
 367
  41
Algeria 408
43
Botswana
 364
  43
Palestine 404
44
Kuwait
 354
  44
Saudi Arabia 403
45
El Salvador
 340
  45
El Salvador 387
46
Saudi Arabia
 329
  46
Botswana 355
47
Ghana
 309
  47
Qatar  319
48
Qatar
 307  48
Ghana 303

Graph Notes

>>= Score is higher than the U.S.
 = Score is not measurably different from the U.S.
<>
= Score is lower than the U.S.

For more info

   

Last Updated (Tuesday, 30 June 2009 15:26)

Per Student Spending = $8,224

In the 2007-08 school year (the most recent school year for which actual spending figures are available), Utah spent $8,224 per public school student.  As the graph below shows, the amount that Utah spends per student each school year has consistently increased over the decades. Since 1970, per student spending has increased 111% (more than double) even after adjusting for inflation.

Utah Per Student Spending, 1960 - 2008
Utah Taxpayers Association1

Read more >>

 

School Awards - Charter School of the Year

Last Updated (Tuesday, 30 June 2009 14:46)

Charter School of the Year
2008-09 School Year

The Utah State Office of Education has named Ogden Preparatory Academy the state's Charter School of the Year. The award was based on academic achievement, parent involvement, and community service.  All students at Ogden Preparatory Academy, which opened in 2003, take classes in both Spanish and English.

FOR MORE INFO

SEE A COMPLETE LIST OF SCHOOL AWARDS>>
   

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