Cindy Gonzalez
OMAHA — Nebraska’s average ACT score declined slightly again in 2024, but education officials say the state’s students stand out compared to other states with high participation in the college entrance test.
This year’s average composite score for Nebraska students is 19.1, the Nebraska Department of Education reported Wednesday. That’s down from 19.2 in 2023, 19.4 in 2022 and 20.0 in 2021.
Nationally, the average American College Testing (ACT) score was also down one-tenth of a point, sliding from 19.5 to 19.4. The highest possible composite score is 36.
While only 36% of students across the nation take the ACT, officials said that Nebraska is among about 13 states where more than 90% of graduates participate.
Among those peer states, only Montana (at 19.5) and Wisconsin (at 19.4) scored better than Nebraska.
“This is significant as states that test a high percentage of graduates tend to have lower averages as the scores include more students who are not on a college course-taking track,” the Nebraska Department of Education said in a news release.
The ACT is used by some college admissions committees to help measure college readiness in English, reading, mathematics and science. All Nebraska public school juniors are required to take the exam as part of the Nebraska Student-Centered Assessment System.
Each year the ACT provides a report for all graduating seniors. Nebraska overall had 95% of public and private school graduates participate in the exam, state education officials said.
When looking more closely at individual subjects, Nebraska students scored an average of 18.1 in English, compared to 18.6 for the nation.
In reading, Nebraska students scored an average of 19.5, compared to the nation’s 20.1.
In math, the Nebraska average was 18.8 and the nation’s was 19.0.
The average science score for Nebraska students was 19.4, compared to 19.6 for the nation.