- Improving College & Career Readiness
- About This Report
- College Readiness
- Educational/Career Aspirations
- Access & Preparation
- Academic Performance
- Academic Achievement & Academic Behaviors
- Looking Back at the Class of 2011
- Policies & Practices to Increase Readiness
- Notes
- Resources
- 2012 ACT National and State Scores
ACT Scores Over Time by Race/Ethnicity
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Average ACT Composite scores for African American, Asian, Hispanic, and White graduates increased between 2008 and 2012. That of American Indian graduates declined by 0.6 scale point.
Asian graduates had the highest average ACT Composite scores and the largest score increase (+0.7 scale point). Average ACT Composite scores for White graduates increased by 0.3 point. These score changes have occurred as more students from each racial/ethnic group have taken the ACT.
Note: Race/ethnicity categories changed in 2011 to reflect updated US Department of Education reporting requirements.
Average ACT Composite Test Scores by Race/Ethnicity, 2008–2012
Graph reads: Between 2008 and 2012, the average ACT Composite score for Asian high school graduates increased from 22.9 to 23.6.
| Race/Ethnicity | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| African American | 16.9 | 16.9 | 16.9 | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| American Indian | 19.0 | 18.9 | 19.0 | 18.6 | 18.4 |
| Asian | 22.9 | 23.2 | 23.4 | 23.6 | 23.6 |
| Hispanic | 18.7 | 18.7 | 18.6 | 18.7 | 18.9 |
| Pacific Islander | – | – | – | 19.5 | 19.8 |
| White | 22.1 | 22.2 | 22.3 | 22.4 | 22.4 |