THS principal Jamie Carlisle announced Friday during an assembly that the district would be providing test preparation offerings.

Students can use the John Baylor Test Prep online program to better prepare for the ACT. THS students who sign up for the program can utilize the program whenever they wish, but specific time also would be dedicated during Triple-A on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Triple-A classes at THS are homeroom periods for students.

The offerings come weeks after the district learned that THS students’ 2013 ACT scores lagged behind the state average in all categories and were a drop from the previous year in all categories.

The biggest drop from the previous school year came in English. USD 464’s average was 20.5, down from 21.6 in 2012. All other areas — math, reading, science and composite — saw a drop of less than a point.

The number of students taking the test also was down in 2013 when 73 THS students took the test. That was a drop from 93 in 2012.

If interest in taking the ACT this school year is any indication, THS could have its highest number of ACT takers in recent years.

Nearly 120 students signed up for online test preparation program — 59 juniors and 59 seniors.

The John Baylor Test Prep program cost the district nearly $3,000, Superintendent Randy Weseman said.

Groundbreaking set for new school

The Tonganoxie USD 464 school board will have a groundbreaking ceremony for its new elementary school during its Oct. 14 regular meeting.

The meeting, which normally takes place at the high school library, will start at 6 p.m. at Tonganoxie Middle School. The ceremony will be southeast of the middle school where the new school will be built.

Districts voters approved a $27.2 million bond issue last year to fund the school, which will be home to classes in grades kindergarten through fifth. When the building is finished, TMS will go from a 5-8 building to 6-8. State aid will contribute $9.3 million.