By Scott Harvey
Commerce – Commerce High School students have reversed a three-year trend by exceeding the state average ACT composite scores.
The average score of 21.4 topped the state's 20.8 average. The last time CHS surpassed the state average was 2005.
The ACT consists of curriculum-based tests of educational development in English, mathematics, reading and science designed to measure the skills needed for success in first year college coursework.
CHS surpassed the state 2009 scores in every tested area except mathematics where there was a .2 percentage point difference.
In 2009, 46 CHS students were tested, the highest number in the last five years.
CHS also exceeded the state in predictions for success for first year college students in each area tested. Results show 76 percent of CHS students will pass College English Composition, compared to the state 63 percent. In College Algebra, 54 percent of CHS students will find success over 44 percent in the state. The state's 49 percent in College Social Science is exceeded by the high school's 57 percent success prediction. In College Biology, CHS comes in at 33 percent over the state's 26 percent.
"We are excited to see our work paying off. We have increased the expectations we have for our students and they in turn expect more of themselves. We are really proud of the direction we are going," Principal Virdie Montgomery said.