By Joanna Miller, Staff Writer 

One two-digit number can make all the difference when it comes to college applications.

According to recent results released by the American College Testing program (ACT), Prior Lake High School students who took the exam surpassed Minnesota statewide averages.

The pool of PLHS students taking the exam has bettered its scores for each of the past five years.

“We’re doing better, with more students taking the ACT,” Superintendent Sue Ann Gruver reported to the School Board on Aug. 11.

Gruver said the results reflect on all grade levels taught in the district, not just high school courses.

“These students come [to high school] ready to learn,” Gruver explained.

In 2004, PLHS students scored a composite of 22.7 on the exam, and by 2008 that number has moved ahead to 23.5, a .8-point jump.

In comparison, the statewide composite in 2004 was 22.2 and climbed to 22.6 in 2008 – a .4-point jump. Plus, state’s score placed it in the top 10 nationally, meaning Prior Lake-Savage is surpassing a top-notch level.

Nationally, the average composite score was 21.1.

Gruver pointed out that the Prior Lake-Savage score also increased as the number of students to take the exam has grown from 246 PLHS students in 2004 to 324 in 2008.

Principal Dave Lund said the number of students choosing to take the ACT exam is increasing at a rate above student population growth, as well.

“I like to see the increased amount of students taking the test,” Lund said. “I like to see that students are pushing themselves.”

Lund says the increase likely means more students are taking the exam and looking to college opportunities.

ACT has established the benchmark “college readiness scores” for each subject area as an 18 on English composition, 22 on math/algebra, 21 in social science and 24 in biology.

The test – covering English, math, reading and science – is designed to measure the skills needed for success in the first year of college.

Many colleges have used the ACT score as a threshold for acceptance or academic scholarships since the exam was developed in the 1950s.

Lund said that the high school doesn’t specifically prepare students for the ACT, but increased academic rigor gives students a leg up on the competition.

“We offer rigorous courses with the standards embedded in them,” Lund said. “That should prepare them for the ACT test.”

Lund says colleges often look at the ACT as a “constant” while grading standards can vary between school districts and impact grades.

 Joanna Miller can be reached at (952) 345-6375 or jmiller@swpub.com.