This year's incoming freshmen will be the first class required to complete the state's Core 40 classes to graduate. Core 40 classes are academically rigorous and line up with ACT recommendations, said Jason Bearce, a spokesman for the Indiana Department of Education.
"We would expect to see scores on exams like the ACT increase with that," Bearce said.
The latest ACT scores also show that the stubborn achievement gap remains between white and Asian students and some other minorities. White students scored an average of 22.5 and Asian students averaged 24.2 on the exam this year. Hispanic students, meanwhile, averaged 19.9, while black students scored 17.3.
Every ethnic group improved scores from last year except for black students, whose average score remained stagnant. But more black students are taking the test, which is good news, Colby said.
"We're having more students who are interested in college and are pursuing that dream," he said.
- Associated Press
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