MMSTI

Montana Math and Science Teacher Initiative

Tests of College Readiness2

Of Montana’s 2009 high school graduates: 54% took ACT, 22% took SAT, and 70% took

MUSWA tests.

Average scores & Readiness thresholds3

Montana’s class of 2009 averages were above national averages and college-readiness

thresholds.

Percent ready by threshold4

Depending on the measure used, 48% to 81% of the students tested College Ready.

Students’ Planned Majors & ACT Scores5

19%: Health Sciences and Related Fields (21.9)15%: Undecided (21.9)9%: Agriculture Sciences and Technologies

(19.9)7% Business and Management (21.2)6% Biological and Physical Sciences (24.2)6% Social Sciences (24.2)6% Visual and Performing Arts (22.1)5% Engineering: (24.5)Based on 5,960 Montana High School Students

Percent of Students Ready by Subject6

ACT conducts studies to set minimum thresholds at which students will have a 75% chance of earning C’s or higher as freshmen in college. The reading score predicts success in

history and the science score predicts biology.

An Example of Aspiration/Readiness Disconnect

7

Of those students interested in Health Care Fields:71% are ready for college composition55% are ready for college social sciences30% are ready for college mathematics19% are ready for college biology

Based on ACT scores in English, Reading, Math, and Science and Interest Inventory on ACT

High School Rigor Improves Readiness8

ACT and the College Board define Core as 4 yrs of English, 3 yrs math, 3 yrs science, & 3 yrs social

sciences. Both tests show significant gains for students with rigorous

high school courses.

MUSWA Has Improved Readiness in Writing

9

These trend lines are based on both an increasing number of test-takers and increasing scores. In 2001, 3,365 students tested, 228 of whom were American Indian. In 2009, 7,753 students tested, 534 of whom

were American Indian.

Developmental Education Serves Under-prepared Students

10

These rates are for the MUS only and do not include Community or Tribal Colleges.

In 2009, Common Course Numbering corrected possible errors in classification of developmental courses.

For more information about College Readiness

11

Go to the Montana University System “Preparing for College” Website: http://mus.edu/collegeprep.asp Admissions standards Charts, graphs, helpful links Mathematics Proficiency Initiative Writing Proficiency Initiative

Contact the Director of Academic Initiatives Jan Clinard, Ed.D. 406-444-0652 jclinard@montana.edu