Idaho students perform better on the ACT than the national average

The 2019 results show that more students in Idaho are meeting the ACT’s benchmarks in English, math, reading and science.

The ACT is one of several college placement exams. The state department of education reports 50 percent of Idaho students who took the ACT met three or more of the subjects benchmarks. That’s compared to just 37 percent of students nationwide.

At Idaho Falls School District 91, this was no surprise quiz.

“We really work with students to encourage them to think about what it is that they really want to do after graduation. It may be a four-year university, it may be a two-year community college, or it may be a technical education program. We try to give them the foundation they need in order to be successful after high school,” said Communications and Community Engagement Director for D91, Margaret Wimborne.

The average ACT score for Idaho’s 2019 test-takers was 22.3, compared to the national average of 20.7.