STEM Overview

   

Expressed and Measured Interest
  • 1,799,243 graduates, an estimated 54% of the graduating class, took the ACT.*
  • 293,306 graduates have an expressed and measured interest in STEM.
Expressed Interest Only
  • 421,585 graduates have an expressed interest only in STEM.
Chart Table
Percent of 2013 ACT-Tested High School Graduates Meeting ACT College Readiness Benchmarks by Subject
Percent of 2013 ACT-Tested High School Graduates Meeting ACT College Readiness Benchmarks by Subject
SubjectPercent Meeting Benchmark
English76
Reading56
Mathematics58
Science51
All Four Subjects39
Chart Table
Percent of 2013 ACT-Tested High School Graduates Meeting ACT College Readiness Benchmarks by Subject
Percent of 2013 ACT-Tested High School Graduates Meeting ACT College Readiness Benchmarks by Subject
SubjectPercent Meeting Benchmark
English64%
Reading43%
Mathematics47%
Science38%
All Four Subjects28%
Measured Interest Only
  • 153,303 graduates have a measured interest only in STEM.
No Interest
  • 931,049 graduates have no interest in STEM.
Chart Table
Percent of 2013 ACT-Tested High School Graduates Meeting ACT College Readiness Benchmarks by Subject
Percent of 2013 ACT-Tested High School Graduates Meeting ACT College Readiness Benchmarks by Subject
SubjectPercent Meeting Benchmark
English64%
Reading45%
Mathematics41%
Science37%
All Four Subjects26%
Chart Table
Percent of 2013 ACT-Tested High School Graduates Meeting ACT College Readiness Benchmarks by Subject
Percent of 2013 ACT-Tested High School Graduates Meeting ACT College Readiness Benchmarks by Subject
SubjectPercent Meeting Benchmark 
English61% 
Reading41% 
Mathematics38% 
Science31% 
All Four Subjects22% 

* Totals for graduating seniors were obtained from Knocking at the College Door: Projections of High School Graduates, 8th edition. © December 2012 by the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education.