ACT college entrance exams for the high school Class of 2018 have been announced for the nation, state, school districts and individual schools.
The state average was 19.4, the same as in the preceding graduating class. The national composite was 20.8, down from 21.0 a year ago.
In Little Rock, the average composite was 18.3, down from 18.6 a year ago. The composite score -- which is a combination of English, reading, math and science subtests -- was highest at Central High, where the graduating class earned a 21.1, up from 20.6 in the preceding class. The Parkview Magnet High composite was 19.1, down from 19.9. It was 15.4 at J.A. Fair High, down from 15.6. It was also 15.4 at McClellan High, up from 15.1. The composite at Hall High was 14.6, down from 15.5 in the previous graduating class.
In the Pulaski County Special district, Maumelle High's composite was 19.4, down from 19.5. Joe T. Robinson's score was 18.0, up from 17.1 the preceding year. The composite was 17.1, down from 17.3, at Mills University Studies High. Sylvan Hills High's composite was 19.0, up from 18.5.
North Little Rock High School's composite score of 17.8 was unchanged from the previous year.
Hot Springs school hails tests' results
The Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts' Class of 2018 outpaced peers across the state by more than 10 points on the ACT national college admissions exam, representatives of the residential public school for gifted students reported.
The students averaged a 30.0 composite score as a class. The accomplishment marks the second consecutive year in which the school's graduating class has achieved a 30 or higher on the national exam.
Corey Alderdice, the school's director, said the Hot Springs school strives to be viewed as an extension of every school in the state. He said such scores are only possible with the combined preparation students received from their home institutions and continued study at the math, science and arts school.
All classes at the school are taught on the college level, and the school offers more than 50 classes that allow students to earn college credit via a partnership with the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith. Recent cohorts of graduates have completed an average of 50 hours of college credit.
Event to spotlight 8 magnet schools
The Little Rock School District will host its annual Magnet School Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Park Plaza mall.
The event showcases the specialty programs at various schools in the district for families that will be selecting schools for their children to attend in 2019-20 and beyond.
Participating schools are Booker Arts Magnet Elementary, Carver Math-Science Magnet Elementary, Gibbs Magnet School of International Studies and Foreign Languages, and Williams Traditional Studies Magnet Elementary. Also participating are Horace Mann Arts and Science Magnet Middle, Parkview Arts/Science Magnet High, Central International Studies High, and Dunbar Gifted and Talented/International Studies Magnet Middle schools.
Details about the specific schools are available on the magnet school fair link on the district's website: lrsd.org.
Metro on 10/23/2018