ACT scores in New Orleans area Catholic schools exceed state, U.S.
By on September 15, 2015
Students in New Orleans area Roman Catholic high schools scored almost 4 points above the Louisiana average for public and private schools on the national ACT exam and about 2 points above the national average, ACT data show. That puts the Archdiocese of New Orleans' Class of 2015 at an average 23.3 on the 36-point scale.
What's more, Catholic school students were more likely to meet the national test's "college readiness" targets. About 37 percent of students met English, algebra, social sciences and biology benchmarks. Only 16 percent of students across Louisiana met those requirements, and only 28 percent of students across the United States did so.
The exam has big financial implications for Louisiana students. A score of 17 or better may earn a student two tuition-free years of in-state college, and a 20 or better may earn a student four tuition-free years, under the state's TOPS program. A 23 or better may net a student four tuition-free years, plus a $400 annual stipend.
Strong academics have always been part of Catholic schools' mission, Superintendent of Catholic Schools Jan Lancaster said. "We can put our academics against any other system ... but the most important mission is embedding that in our Catholic faith," she said. With proper educations, students can "go forth in the workplaces and live their life for others to make the world a better place. That's the difference Catholic schools bring."
The archdiocese oversees 78 schools in eight parishes: Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. John the Baptist, St. Tammany and Washington. It does not oversee high schools in Washington, Plaquemines, St. Bernard or St. John. Of the 49,082 Louisiana public and private school seniors who took the exam in 2015, 2,510 were Archdiocese students.
What's more, Catholic school students were more likely to meet the national test's "college readiness" targets. About 37 percent of students met English, algebra, social sciences and biology benchmarks. Only 16 percent of students across Louisiana met those requirements, and only 28 percent of students across the United States did so.
Catholic schools officials received the national college entrance exam scores earlier this month. They released system-wide data, not that of individual schools. The last ACT data the Archdiocese publicized was from 2013, in its annual report.
'We can put our academics against any other system.' - Jan Lancaster
Louisiana's composite score of 19.4 includes scores from both public and private school students. So does the national average of 21.0.| New Orleans area Catholic school ACT scores, 2011-15 | |||||
| Class of 2011 | Class of 2012 | Class of 2013 | Class of 2014 | Class of 2015 | |
| Archdiocse of N.O. | 22.7 | 22.8 | 23.1 | 23.1 | 23.3 |
| United States | 21.1 | 21.1 | 20.9 | 21 | 21 |
| Louisiana | 20.2 | 20.3 | 19.5 | 19.2 | 19.4 |
| Source: Archdiocese of New Orleans | |||||
Strong academics have always been part of Catholic schools' mission, Superintendent of Catholic Schools Jan Lancaster said. "We can put our academics against any other system ... but the most important mission is embedding that in our Catholic faith," she said. With proper educations, students can "go forth in the workplaces and live their life for others to make the world a better place. That's the difference Catholic schools bring."
The archdiocese oversees 78 schools in eight parishes: Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. John the Baptist, St. Tammany and Washington. It does not oversee high schools in Washington, Plaquemines, St. Bernard or St. John. Of the 49,082 Louisiana public and private school seniors who took the exam in 2015, 2,510 were Archdiocese students.
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