ACT: Only quarter of grads ready for all subjects

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

WASHINGTON (AP) Just a quarter of this year's high school graduates who took the ACT tests have the reading, math, English and science skills they need to succeed in college or a career, according to data the testing company released Wednesday.

The numbers are even worse for black high school graduates: Only 5 percent are fully ready for life after high school.

The results, part of ACT's annual report, indicate thousands of students graduate from high schools without the knowledge necessary for the next steps in life. The data also show a downturn in overall student scores, although company officials attribute the slide to updated standards and more students taking the exams including those with no intention of attending two- or four-year colleges.

"The readiness of students leaves a lot to be desired," said Jon Erickson, president of the Iowa-based company's education division.

http://xfinity.comcast.net/articles/news-politics/20130821/US-College-Readiness/

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

If it wasn't for the immigration of well educated folks, this country would be f'ed.

[Karee 4,189]

Kids these days.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Kids these days.

It's scary. It's been that way for some time, though. I'll never forget the kid I hired out of a good college a decade or so ago. I swear he could not compose a simple sentence nor spell basic words. I never understood how he actually graduated from high school let alone from one of the best colleges in town. Unbelievable.

[Karee 4,189]

It's scary. It's been that way for some time, though. I'll never forget the kid I hired out of a good college a decade or so ago. I swear he could not compose a simple sentence nor spell basic words. I never understood how he actually graduated from high school let alone from one of the best colleges in town. Unbelievable.

It's what happens when people have short attention spans I suppose.

[Darnell 8,478]

Wait o mo - this is 'about average' numbers since ACT starting giving the test.

[Rattlehead 69]

It's scary. It's been that way for some time, though. I'll never forget the kid I hired out of a good college a decade or so ago. I swear he could not compose a simple sentence nor spell basic words. I never understood how he actually graduated from high school let alone from one of the best colleges in town. Unbelievable.

Rampant cheating when it comes to writing... http://chronicle.com/article/The-Shadow-Scholar/125329/

Just one more reason why I find it hard to take anything other than a STEM degree seriously. I feel for those who have actually worked for the lib arts degrees, but I've watched too many of their colleagues do zero-to-minimal work to obtain the same, and read too many reports on widespread academic dishonesty in those programs to take them at face value.

[mota bhai 2,675]

Just one more reason why I find it hard to take anything other than a STEM degree seriously. I feel for those who have actually worked for the lib arts degrees, but I've watched too many of their colleagues do zero-to-minimal work to obtain the same, and read too many reports on widespread academic dishonesty in those programs to take them at face value.

Agreed.

[Peikko 1,575]

It's a silly system. If you have to make it easy enough for the lowest common denominator to graduate, there's not point doing it. Equal opportunity should not equal everyone has to do it or else. Nuts, the school system is completely nuts.