ACT results are released for Class of 2020

BATON ROUGE - Louisiana’s Class of 2020 earned an average ACT Composite score of 18.7. That’s based on the Louisiana Department of Education’s annual release of ACT data today for the 2020 high school graduating class. Louisiana’s score is at an all-time low since the state granted all students access to the test in 2013.
This is the third consecutive year Louisiana’s ACT Composite score has decreased. The state earned a 19.6 in 2016-2017 before seeing declines to 19.3 in 2017-2018 and 18.9 in 2018-2019. The average Composite score also declined among Students with Disabilities (14.8 in 2019 to 14.4 in 2020), Economically Disadvantaged (17.3 in 2019 to 17.1 in 2020) and English Learners (14.6 in 2019 to 14.2 in 2020).
Results are available now on the LDOE website.
“Our Louisiana students are as talented as any across the country. This continued decline in scores should trigger our thinking about flipping this trajectory,” said State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley. “When students score higher, they open additional doors of opportunities for themselves and their families.”
The number of seniors earning a college-going ACT score dipped for the third consecutive year. Fifty-two percent of seniors in the Class of 2020 earned an 18 or better. That’s compared to 54 percent in 2019 and 59 percent in 2018. Students earning a 21 or better dropped to 32 percent. That number was 33 percent in 2019 and 36 percent in 2018. A score of 18 is the performance level at which students admitted to college are generally not required to retake high school courses. A score of 21 will earn schools an ‘A’ grade in the state’s high school rating system in 2025.
The Class of 2020 Louisiana report includes over 53,000 students. Since 2013, Louisiana has offered the ACT free of charge to high school juniors. The ACT is used for college admissions and access to scholarships and financial aid, including TOPS. By making the test accessible to all students, Louisiana ensures families do not face an additional financial barrier to success after high school.
“Louisiana is a good example of providing access to all students, but the decline in ACT scores over time is clearly a call to action,” said State Commissioner of Higher Education Kim Hunter Reed. “While ACT scores are not mandated for college acceptance in Louisiana, this year’s scores are a clear mandate charge to us to do better in preparing all students,” said Reed. “For students to envision themselves succeeding in college it’s important for them to achieve scores that support their progress and increase access to scholarships and aid. Expanded access and student success must be our collective goal.”
Louisiana calculates its ACT data using the “best score” calculation used by colleges and for school letter grades. ACT calculates Louisiana’s average score for all public and private school students anticipating graduation that year using a student’s “most recent score.”
The school in Evangeline Parish with the highest 2019-2020 average composite score was Basile High School. The school had a score of 19.1 and a student count of 38 for that same period. Mamou, with its student count of 99, had an average composite score of 18.7. Pine Prairie came in with an average composite score of 18.5 among its 73 students. The 80 students at Ville Platte High School garnered an average composite score of 17.1.
As a whole, the parish had an average composite score of 18.3. One hundred forty-five students in the parish scored at least an 18, and 84 scored at least a 21. The following is a breakdown of parish results by subgroup:
Black or African American- average composite score of 16.4, 27 scoring 18 or better, and 13 scoring 21 or better.
White- average composite score of 19.1, 109 with a score of 18 or better, and 68 with a score of 21 or better.
Economically Disadvantaged- average composite score of 17.5, 70 scoring an 18 or better, and 35 scoring a 21 or better.
Female- average composite score of 18.5, 84 scoring an 18 or better, and 48 with a score of at least a 21.
Male- average composite score of 18, 61 scoring at least an 18, and 36 scoring at least a 21.
Section 504- average composite score of 16.2, less than 10 scoring at least an 18, and less than 10 scoring at least a 21.
“We are extremely proud of our 2020 senior students, who showed growth on the recent administration of the American College Test (ACT) despite a decline in the state‘s overall average ACT score,” said Evangeline Parish Superintendent of Schools Darwan Lazard. “The State of Louisiana requires all junior and senior students, including most students who receive special education services and others in general education with no plans to attend college, to take the ACT annually. Our positive growth is a testament to the hard work of our students and faculty members.”
He continued, “This year, 2020, has been one of innumerable challenges for our students, educators, other school employees and community; yet, we have continued to work and rise together! Even though our last school year was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and this school year has been interrupted by destructive hurricanes and modified by the virus, we will continue the most important task of educating our precious children, who are our future.”
Compared to other public schools in the tri-parish area, the Evangeline Parish scores are fairly consistent. Midland High School, with its 56 students, led Acadia Parish with an average composite score of 20.3. Iota’s 108 students had an average composite score of 19.6. Rayne High School had an average composite score of 18 among its 163 students. Church Point High had 118 students with an average composite score of 17.8, and Crowley High School had 143 students with an average composite score of 16.5.
The following is a breakdown of parish results in Acadia Parish:
Total population- average composite score of 18.1, 290 scoring at least an 18, and 154 scoring at least a 21.
Black or African American- average composite score of 15.3, 29 scoring 18 or better, and less than 10 scoring 21 or better.
Hispaninc/Latino- average composite score of 16.2, less than 10 scoring at least an 18, and less than 10 scoring at least a 21.
White- average composite score of 19.1, 252 with a score of 18 or better, and 140 with a score of 21 or better.
Two or more races- average composite score of 18.1, less than 10 scoring an 18 or better, and less than 10 scoring a 21 or better.
Economically Disadvantaged- average composite score of 17.2, 149 scoring an 18 or better, and 75 scoring a 21 or better.
Female- average composite score of 18.7, 175 scoring an 18 or better, and 92 with a score of at least a 21.
Male- average composite score of 17.4, 115 scoring at least an 18, and 62 scoring at least a 21.
Section 504- average composite score of 15.4, less than 10 scoring at least an 18, and less than 10 scoring at least a 21.
Magnet Academy for Cultural Arts, with its 39 students, led St. Landry Parish schools with an average composite score of 18.8. Eunice High’s 146 students came in with an average composite score of 18.5. Beau Chene had an average composite score of 17.7 among its 150 students. Port Barre High had an average composite score of 17.4 among its 70 students. Northwest High, with 136 students, had an average composite score of 17.3. North Central’s 33 students had an average composite score of 17.2, and Opelousas Senior High’s 125 students had an average composite score of 17.
The following is a breakdown of parish results in St. Landry Parish:
Total population- average composite score of 17.7, 312 scoring at least an 18, and 153 scoring at least a 21.
Black or African American- average composite score of 16.3, 126 scoring 18 or better, and less than 39 scoring 21 or better.
Hispaninc/Latino- average composite score of 20.3, less than 10 scoring at least an 18, and less than 10 scoring at least a 21.
White- average composite score of 19.4, 173 with a score of 18 or better, and 107 with a score of 21 or better.
Economically Disadvantaged- average composite score of 16.6, 149 scoring an 18 or better, and 63 scoring a 21 or better.
Female- average composite score of 18.1, 180 scoring an 18 or better, and 89 with a score of at least a 21.
Male- average composite score of 17.2, 132 scoring at least an 18, and 64 scoring at least a 21.
Section 504- average composite score of 15.5, less than 10 scoring at least an 18, and less than 10 scoring at least a 21.