The ACT and SAT exams are often associated with stress, anxiety, and many other negative emotions. During junior year of high school, pressure is at its peak; with college applications and the whole future on your horizon, it is a time filled with uncertainty. However this year, thanks to a new initiative introduced by Mr. David Hain, an enriched studies teacher, LFHS juniors have a new opportunity, called ACT study, that helps to prepare themselves for the ACT and minimize their stress and anxiety.
ACT study is a ten week class, scheduled twice a week, that can lead to improved college acceptance and scholarship opportunities for the students who participate.
“These days a lot of schools are test-optional, but that doesn’t mean the ACT isn’t important. A good ACT score can be the difference between an acceptance or not, a scholarship or not, and student debt or not,” said Hain. “By providing our students with this resource, we are potentially opening doors for them and improving their postgraduate prospects.”
Last year, Principal Dr. Erin Lenart came up with an idea for a program that she hoped would improve scores on standardized tests. She asked Hain and Dr. Abrams for their help to implement a new initiative that would accomplish this. They began by looking at the data they had available, and focused on using the SAT scores that they had to identify which students were at the highest risk for underperformance. They then designed an intervention strategy: an ACT support class to help them.
The first thing Lenart, Hain, and Abrams did was hire ACT professionals: teachers whose only job was to help students improve their ACT scores. They found what they were looking for in Matt & Rachel Dejong of Academic Tutoring Centers, located in Highland Park.
The outcome of this class on the SAT last year was very promising, so much so that the administration decided to expand the criteria this year so more students have the opportunity to seek help and improve their standardized test scores.
This year, all students were offered a diagnostic ACT in the fall where they were given a retired ACT to determine which categories and subcategories they needed the most improvement on. This information was then sent by email in the form of graphs and charts to all parents and students who took the test. These tests were used diagnostically to determine which students would be invited to join the ACT class second semester, although any student can join by request.
In the program, students focus on not only covering material that will be on the ACT, but also learning strategies that will help with time management, organization, or what to do if they simply have no idea how to answer a question. This program runs every Monday and Tuesday during study halls– one day dedicated to the math portion, and the other to reading, grammar, and science portions.
“I pay to take an ACT class outside of school but, honestly, I think the free one that the school offers is just as helpful, if not better,” said junior Kate Mccann. “The approach of actually learning strategies is much more effective rather than just studying a lot of material.”
This class is an amazing (and free!) opportunity for any junior or upcoming junior who is looking to improve their ACT scores and allow themself to have better opportunities in their future.
