EDMOND —
Three of four Edmond area schools appeared on the list of the eight Oklahoma high schools posting the highest average ACT composite score for 2010, and three of the four tested the largest student populations.
“About three out of four students in the Class of 2010 took the ACT, which means the great majority of Oklahoma high school seniors are interested in attending college,” said State Superintendent Sandy Garrett.
“So, the responsibility of every high school in this state is to make certain they are prepared for college and/or today’s competitive workplace.”
The ACT is graded on a scale of 0-26. Oklahoma’s average composite score is 20.7, with 73 percent of seniors participating; the national average is 21 and a participation rate of just 47 percent.
The scoring excludes the Oklahoma School for Science and Mathematics’ score of 31.4.
Edmond North High School had the highest average ACT score in the state with an overall composite score of 24.3, Edmond Memorial High School was fifth with a 23.6, Deer Creek High School was sixth with a score of 23.2 and Santa Fe High School’s composite was 22.2.
Typically, the larger the testing population, the lower the score. However, schools in Oklahoma testing the largest student populations also had among the state’s highest scores in 2010.
The three Edmond area high schools having more than 300 ACT test-takers in their class of 2010 included: No. 4, Edmond North High School with 458 test-takers, 24.3; No. 5, Edmond Memorial High School had 450 test-takers, 23.6; and No. 8, Edmond Santa Fe High School had 356 test-takers, 22.2.
“At Edmond North, it’s cool to be smart,” said Principal Jan Keirns. “The Edmond North High School Class of 2010 set an all-time record for highest ACT scores in school history with a composite score of 24.3. Testing 85 percent of the senior class, these scores demonstrate the excellence in academics that is the mission and vision of the Edmond North Huskies.”
Keirns said Edmond North’s success is based on four areas: 1) increased academic rigor; 2) use of data to improve instruction and increase student learning; 3) collaborative teaming through Professional Learning Communities of teachers; and 4) development of interpersonal skills that enhance a student’s success as an individual.
“Effective teaching yields successful learning, an expectation embraced by the North staff,” Keirns said. “The teachers set high expectations for student learning and work hard with every student to insure learning.
“Ninety-two percent of the graduates are enrolled in a college-preparatory curriculum. Teachers and counselors strive to have every student tackle rigorous course work while also gaining the habits of mind, time-management skills, and analytical thinking that contribute to high achievement. The Advanced Placement program is one of the largest in the state, with 72 percent of the students having taken at least one AP course.”
An emphasis on instructional strategies that effectively increase reading skills has made an important difference in student success, Keirns added.
Edmond schools offer ACT prep classes held in the high schools that are tuition-based that students can elect to take after school hours.
“It gives them test-taking skills and relieves some of the anxiety that goes along with test-taking,” said Linda Despain, associate superintendent of education services for Edmond Public Schools.
“I think that is one thing that helps. I feel the rigor of the education program and Advanced Placement classes also helps. The number of students enrolling in AP classes and the number of AP tests being given is increasing. I think all of those things play a part in raising the ACT scores. We are continuing to increase the number of students taking the tests, 84 percent this past year, and our scores are increasing.”
The ACT Explorer test is given in the eighth grade and the ACT Plan test is given at the sophomore level.
“We share the scores with our principals,” Despain said. “Our curriculum people look at those scores. These tests are free to the students paid for by the state. The other thing that helps is students who take the CORE test.
“The higher level of the course a student takes the higher their score will be on the ACT.”
All ACT scores are posted at www.sde.state.ok.us and include both composite scores and subscores.
Education
Edmond area schools’ ACT scores are tops
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Deer Creek official says state ‘testing results could be flawed’
Deer Creek Public School District official Cindy Koss voiced concerns that testing results may be flawed due to circumstances surrounding the testing process that took place in April and May.
In early May Edmond School District Superintendent David Goin addressed similar concerns in a letter to the Edmond-area legislative delegation.
Koss, chief academic officer for the Deer Creek District, reported to the Deer Creek board members there were invalidations and screen lock-up delays resulting in tests having to be retaken. -
UCO instructors recognized as top Oklahoma professors
StateStats.org, in conjunction with partner website OnlineSchoolsOklahoma.com, recently recognized several University of Central Oklahoma instructors as top professors in Oklahoma.
Each year StateStats.org sets out to find post-secondary educators who had been recognized recently for excellence in the classroom, on campus and in the community.
The recipients recognized as top professors, followed by profession, are as follows: -
ACM@UCO opens registration for youth summer rock camp for ages 10-16
The Academy of Contemporary Music at the University of Central Oklahoma (ACM@UCO) recently opened registration for ACM@UCO’s annual summer rock camp.
The summer rock camp will be from 1–4 p.m. July 22–26 on the fourth floor of the ACM@UCO building in the Bricktown district of downtown Oklahoma City. -
UCO student earns national scholarship to study in South Korea for 1 semester
For University of Central Oklahoma student Taylor Egger, spending a semester in South Korea this upcoming academic year will be more than just studying abroad — it will complete a longtime dream.
The sophomore international business major is the recipient of the highly competitive national Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship for the 2013-14 academic year. -
OCU Hebrew students to study Dead Sea Scrolls
Students in a Biblical Hebrew class at Oklahoma City University will get a chance to study one of the Dead Sea Scrolls during the fall 2013 semester.
Religion professor Lisa Wolfe’s class, Readings in Biblical Hebrew, will participate in the project that is part of the Green Scholars Initiative, a program associated with the massive collection of biblical manuscripts and related artifacts that have recently been acquired by the Green family, owners of Hobby Lobby. -
UCO awards leadership scholarships to local students
The University of Central Oklahoma recently awarded the President’s Leadership Scholarship and the Leaders of Tomorrow (LOT) Scholarship to multiple Edmond residents recognizing their demonstrated talent and distinguished achievement in leadership, citizenship, service and communication.
President’s Leadership Scholarship recipients include Bishop McGuinness High School graduate Sheyla Rabei and Edmond Memorial High School graduate Lexi Banister. -
UCO College of Fine Arts, Design awards scholarships
The University of Central Oklahoma College of Fine Arts and Design recently awarded two scholarships to Edmond resident Ben Campbell for the 2013-14 academic year.
Campbell, a Music Business major at the Academy of Contemporary Music at the University of Central Oklahoma (ACM@UCO), received the Don Betz Leadership in Arts Award and the Freda J. Cross Endowed Scholarship.
“We are proud of our students. These scholarships show our pride and support for excellence in academics, leadership and performance,” said John Clinton, dean of the College of Fine Arts and Design.
“We believe in our students and our program and aim to help them achieve success in all areas of life.”
CFAD is a center for excellence for the fine and performing arts, as well as a center of innovation for improving and promoting arts education. The mission of the college is to prepare creative leaders and professionals in the fine arts, education and design. -
Local students graduate from Rice
ECU lists honor roll students
Outstanding academic work during the 2013 spring semester has earned listings on the President’s Honor Roll and Dean’s Honor Roll for students at East Central University in Ada.
The President’s Honor Roll is reserved for students who earned A’s in all their courses for a perfect 4.0 grade point average. Edmond’s Gina Ann Mengwasser, physical education (teacher certification) was listed on the President’s Honor Roll.
The Deans’ Honor Roll lists students who have at least a 3.33 grade point average with no grade lower than a C. At least 12 credit hours must be completed successfully during the semester to be included on either honor roll. The following Edmond students are on the Dean’s Honor Roll: Sabina Koirala, nursing; Brandon Ray Nicholson, business administration; David Gregory Traxler, cartography (geotechnique); and Rachel Marie Watson, biology. -
Food Bank gives free summer meals for children
For thousands of children, the end of school means three long months of wondering whether or not they will have enough food to eat. Fortunately, children 18 and under can get a nutritious lunch, and/or snack through the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma’s Summer Feeding program at selected sites from June 3 through July 27.
“One in four children in Oklahoma struggles with hunger every day,” said Rodney Bivens, executive director of the Regional Food Bank. “No child should have to worry where their next meal will come from. This program ensures that children will receive adequate nutrition during the summer months when school meals are not available.”
Meals will be provided to all children age 18 and younger, without charge. The Regional Food Bank will provide free summer meals at the following sites and times in the Edmond area: -
Cancer Center welcomes 8 summer research scholars
Two students with Edmond connections are among eight college students who will spend their summer working alongside researchers at the Peggy and Charles Stephenson Cancer Center at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center as part of the Summer Research Scholars Program.
Crista Riggs is an Edmond resident and a student at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Ark., and Max Lyon, from Oklahoma City and a student at the University of Central Oklahoma, will be joining six other students as they work at the cancer center.
The program is in its fourth year at the cancer center, and it affords students the opportunity to work under the mentorship of senior cancer scientists. The aim is to heighten students’ interest and better prepare them for careers in cancer research and medicine. - More Education Headlines
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