PCHS Working with Students to Increase SAT and ACT Test Scores

Laurel Dilley and Jenifer Nail-Cook made a presentation at the February 20^th Pocahontas County BOE meeting about how the school is working to prepare students who want to go on to college to take the SAT and ACT tests.

For those of you who may not be familiar with these two college admission tests, colleges use a student’s test scores on both of these tests to determine if a student is prepared academically to succeed in college. While the ACT and SAT tests are different in content and scoring, colleges take into account student scores on each of these in making admission decisions. Most colleges recommend that students take both of these tests at least once.

Dilley and Nail-Cook told the board members that PCHS offers a course preparing students for these tests, with the 1st semester preparing for the ACT test and the 2^nd semester of the course concentrating on the SAT. It is recommended that students who are eyeing going to college take these tests in their Junior Year.

They said the scores on the ACT test range from 0 to 36, with most colleges looking for minimum scores of 14 to 16 for admission. A composite score of 21 is needed to be considered for a WV PROMISE Scholarship, while other very good scholarships require a 26 or above ACT score. To get a full-ride scholarship, a score of 30 or higher is needed on the ACT.

Last fall, the students who took the course scored an average of 19.27 on their Act, and of the students who took the ACT again in December, they improved their scores to an average of 22.88, with each improving their scores by 2 or 3 points.

Dilley said  50% of the students in the class have already qualified for the PROMISE Scholarship, which can result in a savings of $5,200.00 each year for 4 years, a total savings of $145,000 in tuition costs for Pocahontas County students.

The course also helps the students to decide what to major in at college, preparing resumes, engaging in community service, which college admission officers also look at, applying for scholarships and scheduling & preparing for their college admission interviews.

Dilley and Nail Cook are hoping to have similar results in the SAT test preparation portion of the class this semester.

During the first public hearing on next year’s School Calendar, which was held just before the regular board meeting, three optional calendars which were designed by a committee of parents, teachers and administrators based on survey results from parents, staff and students, were presented. These had some different starting and ending dates for the school year, different holiday proposals and other differences. These calendars will again be presented at the next public hearing before the March 12^th BOE meeting. There will then be a mailing sent out asking which of these calendars is preferred. You can see these three proposed calendars on the Pocahontas County Board of Education Website.

Also at the meeting, the board:

• Approved for the Robotics Team travel overnight to Riverside High School on February 23-24 to compete in the VEX Robotics Competition.
• Approved an overnight trip to Fairmont on March 21 and 22 for the Pocahontas County High School Skills Club to go to the State Skills USA competition.
• They approved the recommended Service and Professional Personnel Actions. Which can be seen  by clicking on the following  link to the official agenda for this meeting –2024 2-20 Agenda(1)