school lockersRichardson ISD, which includes Lake Highlands High School, for the past two years has been the only district in Texas to offer the ACT college entrance exam to 11th grade students free of charge and during the regular school day, according to the Richardson ISD communications staff.

“This unique effort has introduced the college entrance process to hundreds of additional students than otherwise traditionally participate. Overall, more than 95 percent of RISD’s Class of 2014 took the ACT, compared with 40 percent in Texas and 57 percent in the United States,” they note.

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Most U.S. colleges and universities accept ACT test scores as part of the application process. Usually registration is $35 -$45 and the test lasts some three hours, so what RISD offers is a pretty good deal that saves both time and money for students and parents and overwhelmingly increases the rate of participation.

According to princetonreview.com, it is best to fully prepare for the ACT and/or SAT tests and take them during the junior year (as opposed to taking the tests earlier and several times in an attempt to get a higher score). Also, as the district superintendent Kay Waggoner notes: “When all students are able take the ACT for college entry at their own campus where they are comfortable, and without the barrier of cost, they increase their chances of attending college.”

Regarding the participation and scores in the 2013-2014 school year, Waggoner says: “We are excited that student participation in the ACT jumped 108 percent while our district scores did not drop substantially. The first district-wide scores, which only reflect the tests taken on one test date, are slightly below the state average, but our commitment to do what is best for all students is our primary focus. Our commitment to college and career readiness made this effort overwhelmingly successful.”

RISD was able to offer the exam through a collaborative effort with ACT in its District Choice School Testing Program; it’s the first school district in Texas to participate.

See the scores from the 2014 tests here.