AMERICUS — Southland Academy’s 2016 graduating class provided a legacy of high academic achievement. The class’ success was evident in the 2016 ACT fall score report. The ACT® is the leading U.S. college admissions test, measuring high school aptitude as an indicator for college readiness. Southland students exceeded both the national and the state average scores in each category of the test.
Headmaster Ty Kinslow said, “I am very proud of the 2016 senior class of Southland Academy and I’m extremely pleased with the tremendous scores they achieved on the ACT. According to the ACT, college readiness is directly linked to the rigor of the course. Southland Academy prides itself on the rigor of its courses.” Kinslow also praised the faculty and staff at Southland for their diligence in preparing Southland students for their future. “We have an exemplary group of teachers here at Southland,” he said. “They are all excellent in their fields and they make preparing each student a priority.”
The ACT has four sections: English, Math, reading, and science. Each section is scored on a scale of 1-36, and the average of these four scores comprises the composite score. Southland Academy has seen an increase in the number of ACT test takers as has the state of Georgia. Georgia’s average composite score for 2016 was 21.1 and the national average composite score was 20.8. Southland Academy students average composite score was 23.5. Not only did Southland students score higher than the state and national averages in the composite score, but also in all four sections.
The ACT developed “benchmarks” in individual subject areas of the four main sections to aid in determining readiness. A benchmark score is the minimum score needed on an ACT subject area test to indicate a 50 percent chance of obtaining a B or higher, or a 75 percent chance of obtaining a C or higher in the corresponding credit bearing college course. Southland students exceeded the national and state averages of these benchmark scores. In the category “College English Composition”, 61 percent of national students met or exceeded the benchmark score, 65 percent of Georgia students met or exceeded the benchmark score, while 90 percent of Southland students met or exceeded the score. In “College Algebra” 62 percent of Southland students met or exceeded the benchmark compared to Georgia’s 40 percent and nation’s 41 percent. In “College Social Science”, 76 percent of Southland students met or exceeded the benchmark and the state and national percent were 47 percent and 44 percent respectively. Lastly, in “College Biology”, Southland’s percent was 48 percent compared to the state and nation each having 36 percent. Overall, Southland students who met all four ACT benchmark scores also exceeded both state and national percentages by greater than 20 percent.
The Sumter County Chamber of Commerce Education Division is aware that college readiness for all students requires a great deal of work from administrators and teachers as well as an equal amount of effort from the individual students and their families. With these impressive scores, it is evident that the Southland Academy administration and staff are most certainly providing a quality education for their students.
“We, here at the Sumter County Chamber of Commerce, are excited to hear of such accomplishments. We congratulate Southland Academy and the graduating class of 2016 for their hard work and dedication to academic excellence and higher learning. We look forward to seeing what these bright students achieve in the future, said Barbara Grogan, executive director of the Sumter County Chamber of Commerce.
— Submitted by One Sumter Economic Development Foundation Inc.