Tonganoxie’s average for the ACT composite score was 22.0, compared to 21.9 for the state average. That was a slight increase for THS from both 2014 (21.9) and 2013 (21.1).

English scores were just above the average, as that number was 21.7 for THS and 21.4 for the state.

Reading and math were below the state average.

Tonganoxie was at 22.3, compared to 22.4 for the state average. And in math, THS averaged 20.9, compared to the state’s number of 21.6.

And in science, Tonganoxie tested above the state at 22.1. The state average is 21.8.

THS students made improvements in ACT scores in both English and reading compared to the previous two years, while THS saw slight dips in math and science. Science scores decreased by just 0.2 to 22.1 for THS, while math dropped to 20.9 from 21.3.

Other ACT statistics showed that for English composition, the benchmark was an ACT score of 18. Of Tonganoxie students, 77 percent tested were ready for English composition.

The college algebra benchmark was 22, which meant 46 percent of THS students were ready for college algebra.

In social sciences, the benchmark also was 22, and 53 percent of THS students tested were ready for that curriculum at the collegiate level.

In biology, the benchmark was 23. That means 45 percent of THS students tested last year were ready for college biology.

Overall, 30 percent of students tested were ready in all four content tests.

According to ACT data, students who take algebra 1 and 2 and geometry typically achieve higher ACT math scores than those who take fewer than three years of math. Students who take more advanced math courses substantially increase their ACT math score.

Those students taking biology and chemistry in combination with physics typically achieve higher ACT scores than students taking fewer than three years of science courses.