Academic Test Scores

When we say Owensboro Catholic Schools are academically excellent, we have many measures on which to stake this claim. First of all, our elementary schools, the middle school and the high school are certified by standards of academic excellence. All schools are accredited by the State of Kentucky, Department of Education. In addition, the Owensboro Catholic Schools are evaluated by the National Catholic Educational Association, the Kentucky Non-Public School Commission and the National Committee for Private Education, which requires professional development for teachers. A second way to judge the academic excellence of a school has traditionally been student performance on national testing. On the average, Catholic school students perform above the national norm for the particular tests chosen. Owensboro Catholic Schools go well beyond that measure as evidenced in the accompanying charts.

The Owensboro Catholic Schools can boast the highest composite scores in the region and exceed national and state averages on the ACT, PLAN and EXPLORE tests!

ACT

The Owensboro Catholic High School Class of 2010 tied the highest composite ACT score in school history with a 22.6. The National average composite score was a 21.0; the State composite was a 19.4.

Kurt Osborne, interim Principal at OCHS had this to say about the scores, “We are proud to announce that the class of 2010 has equaled last year’s record setting numbers.   With an average composite of 22.6, this ties our best ever score set the previous year.  And, even more impressive, every single member of the graduating class of 2010 took the ACT.”

Osborne continued by saying “Scores can and will fluctuate from year to year so ACT recommends looking at 5 year trends, instead of focusing on year to year scores.  Looking at those trends, even with the occasional dip in scores the overall trend for ACT scores is up.  But even more important than getting caught up in numbers is exactly what these numbers tell us.  They tell us that our students are more prepared for freshman college classes and that across the system our teachers are preparing students for the academic challenges they will face in the future.  They tell us that our students continue to work hard in the classroom, and with test preparation and that our parents emphasize the importance of rigorous coursework and adequate test preparation.

While we are proud of the accomplishments that we as a school have made in this area, we are far from resting on our laurels.  There is always room for improvement, and we as a faculty continue to assess our curriculum to make those improvements in all areas.  This assessment will further prepare our students for college, and as a result, raise ACT scores.”

The possible range of scores is from 1 - 36. The Class of 2010 Composite score of 22.6 ties the highest in OCHS history.

PLAN: An ACT Program for Educational and Career Planning

The PLAN Test is taken each year to assist Grade 10 students at OCHS in evaluating educational and career options. Once again, the OCHS scores were above national and state averages in all areas, as well the highest scores in each category in the region!

The possible range of scores if from 1 - 32.

EXPLORE: An ACT Program for Educational Planning

Each year the Grade 8 students at OCMS take the Explore Test to evaluate their academic standings as well as learn of career opportunities for the future. Once again, OCMS exceeded National averages, as well as the highest scores in all categories in the region!

The possible range of scores is from 1 - 25.

Standardized Test Results – ITBS Test

This year OCS, in conjunction with all Catholic Schools in the Owensboro Diocese, administered the ITBS Achievement Test in place of the CAT6 Achievement Test. The ITBS is a more comprehensive and rigorous test. Teachers use the results to guide instruction within the classroom.

The scores reflect a National Percentile Rank. It is determined by comparing how well our students did with other children across the nation who took the same test. For example, if OCS scored in the 78th percentile, this translates to OCS students performed better than 78 percent of the others who took the same test.

The “average” score would be the 50th percentile, and you can see by looking at the tests that OCS students score well above the national average!