Nebraska Student Scores On ACT Dropped Slightly, But Rank Well Among Peer States

By Paul Hammel, Nebraska Examiner:

October 12, 2022

LINCOLN — Average ACT composite scores by Nebraska students dropped slightly in 2022, from 20.0 in 2021 to 19.4 in 2022.

But the state still ranked high among states where more than 90% of all high school students take the college entry test, according to the Nebraska Department of Education.

In 2022, 94% of Nebraska public school graduates participated in the ACT, the department said in a press release, compared to 36% nationwide.

Among the 14 states that had more than 90% of graduates taking the ACT, only Utah scored higher, at 19.9, the Education Department said.

Nationally, the average composite score fell in 2022 to 19.8, from 20.3 a year ago.

The highest possible score on the ACT is 36.

In other comparisons:

• Nebraska students scored an average of 18.6 in English compared to 19.0 nationally.
• In reading, Nebraska students scored an average of 19.8 compared to 20.4 nationally.
• In math, Nebraska students scored an average of 19.1 compared to 19.3 nationally.
• And in science, Nebraska students scored an average of 19.6 compared to 19.9 nationally.

The Nebraska Department of Education, in its press release, noted that states that test a high percentage of graduates, like Nebraska, tend to have lower averages as the scores include more students who are not on a college course-taking track.

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