Information Brief 2012-33
ACT College Readiness Benchmark Attainment by Family Income Level and Completion of the ACT-Recommended Core Curriculum
Socioeconomic status is related to academic success such that high-income students also have higher levels of academic achievement compared to low-income students. However, by completing a high school core curriculum that includes 4 or more years of English and 3 or more years each of mathematics, science, and social studies, low-income students can increase their achievement levels.
The chart below illustrates that by completing the ACT-recommended core curriculum, students, regardless of income, increase their likelihood of meeting 3 to 4 ACT College Readiness Benchmarks.
Percentage Meeting 3 or 4 ACT College Readiness Benchmarks by Family Income Level and Core Curriculum Completion
| Family Income Level | Non-Core | Core |
|---|---|---|
| Less than $36,000 | 11.6% | 24.11% |
| $36K–$100K | 26.55% | 46.46% |
| Greater than $100K | 46.19% | 65.47% |
Note: Data based on 1,193,255 ACT-tested 2012 high school graduates who reported annual family income and provided course-taking information.
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