Average ACT scores for Kentucky’s 2010 public high school graduates were mostly constant from those in 2009, although more students met college-ready benchmarks in mathematics and science according to the Kentucky Department of Education and the Council on Postsecondary Education.

ACT Inc. developed College Readiness Benchmarks in English, mathematics, science and reading. The benchmark scores are:

  • 18 or higher on the ACT English Test
  • 22 or higher on the ACT Mathematics Test
  • 21 or higher on the ACT Reading Test
  • 24 or higher on the ACT Science Test

In 2010, 52 percent of Kentucky students met the benchmark in English, the same percentage as in 2009. The percentage in mathematics was up to 25 percent in 2010 from 24 percent in 2009. The percentage dropped from 39 percent in 2009 to 37 percent in 2010 in reading, and was up from 18 percent in 2009 to 19 percent in 2010 in science. Overall, 14 percent of students met benchmarks in all four in 2010, up from 13 percent in 2009.

The 2010 composite ACT score for Kentucky public school students is 19.0, compared to 2009’s composite of 19.1. Nationally, the 2010 composite score is 21.0, and the composite for 2009 was 21.1. The national composite score includes both public and non-public school test-takers.