District Testing
US Students
The ACT is Evolving — Discover the Upcoming ACT Enhancements
ACT District Testing Success Stories
PreACT Research · 32 States · 3 Graduating Cohorts
Early assessment changes where students end up.
The data shows how — including for the students least expected to go.
25%
of students who reported no postsecondary plans
still enrolled in college after taking PreACT.
Even students who saw no future in higher education changed course. Among PreACT-tested students who initially reported no plans for education or training, one in four went on to enroll in college — suggesting that early exposure opens doors students didn't know were available.
Beyond the no-plan group: college enrollment rates were consistently higher for PreACT-tested students overall — across all three graduating cohorts (2021, 2022, and 2023).
These findings come from 32 states and three graduating cohorts. The stories below show what they look like from the inside — in counselors' offices, classrooms, and communities from Newport, Oregon, to rural Arkansas to New York.
Source: PreACT®-Tested Students in the 2025 ACT®-Tested Graduating Class: A Summary of Performance and Growth
Read the stories ↓
+1.81
average Composite score gain · PreACT score → ACT score
Measurable Score Growth
Students gained an average of +1.81 Composite score points between their PreACT and ACT scores — with English showing the largest single-subject gain at +3.70 points
Equity and Access Data
by race/ethnicity & family income · 32 states
Identify Opportunity Gaps
Early Research surfaces achievement gaps by race/ethnicity and family income — and shows much of the difference is explained by course rigor and school characteristics, giving districts a clear, actionable lever.
See how educators are bringing the ACT test into their classrooms to improve and track students' readiness for college and career.
As an educator, you’re tasked with not only preparing but inspiring your students toward a brighter future.
Schools like Hayden Catholic High School in Kansas meet this challenge each year by bringing the ACT test to their classrooms, giving students a comfortable and familiar setting for high-stakes college readiness testing.
ACT District Testing has been a wonderful experience for our students and our school this year. We were able to provide a safe and comfortable environment on our campus during the school week to over 130 of our students. Being able to offer it during the school week was amazing...!
Carrie Schmidt, Hayden Catholic High School
District and School Leaders on the Value and Impact of ACT District Testing
ELL Accommodations
The importance of English language learner accommodations that are provided as part of the ACT test administration.
Outcomes of ACT District Testing
Looking at the ACT data to inform curriculum and instruction to ultimately improve student success
Unlocking Student Potential
New York students are unlocking their own potential with the ACT.
An Arkansas Community Comes Together for Student Success
How ACT solutions help improve students’ ACT test scores and open many different paths to success.
One Counselor Has Million Dollar Impact
Taking the ACT® along with the SAT® may lead to more scholarship and financial opportunities.
Gear Up: Guiding Students Along the Path to Success
How an Iowa high school helped students achieve college and career readiness with ACT.
Engaging English Learner Families
In Palm Beach County School District, many of the ELL students had never been in a structured school environment, so expecting them to excel without knowing the language was unreasonable.
Assess, Analyze, Achieve: Aligning Curriculum for District and Student Success
Helena Public School District in Helena, Montana used the ACT® data to develop a robust curriculum that led to increased district and student success.
One Counselor Has a Million Dollar Impact
A school counselor at Morse High School in Maine documented over 10 years of her students taking both the ACT and SAT and found more scholarships favored the ACT.
How to Affect School Culture with Data Visualization
Cody High School in Cody, Wyoming, uses data visualization to transform student ACT scores and GPA information into action.
Senior Retake Day: Open New Doors of Opportunity
The Tennessee Department of Education set yearly growth goals and is seeing a significant impact.
Generating Excitement for the ACT: The Arkansas "No Limits" Campaign
The Arkansas Department of Education "No Limits" campaign encourages students to aim higher, perhaps higher than they had imagined possible.
Supporting the Whole Student: Using ACT Data to Start Conversations, Remove Barriers & Open Doors
Newport High School in Newport, Oregon, is using ACT data to remove barriers and open doors.
Gear Up: Guiding Students Along the Path to Success
Kennedy High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa received a GEAR UP grant and utilized four different ACT products to prepare their 475 students for career and college success.