Some Hampton County students may be more prepared for college than others, according to recent ACT college entrance exams.
Students in Hampton One made improvements on the 2010 ACT (American College Testing) as compared to the Class of 2009, while seniors taking the test in Hampton Two actually posted lower scores than the year before.
Hampton One graduates scored an overall composite of 17.8, which tops their 2009 score of 16.6. The statewide composite was 19.7 (the same as last year), while the national average for public school seniors was 21.0, down a tenth of a point.
"We made some very nice improvements and we came in ahead of 29 districts and tied with two others," said Superintendent Dr. Doug McTeer. "Compared to schools similar to ours, it's more or less where you'd expect us to be."
McTeer said that Wade Hampton High School had been diligently working on its test prep, and school officials plan to continue those courses and even enhance them. The school has also put a recent emphasis on a previously weak area, science, which was reflected in this year's scores.
"It's gratifying that we made a jump over last year, but I think we can score higher that that and improve even more," he added. "We are looking forward to the day when we tie the state average. That's going to be tough for a rural district, but that's where we want to be."
Fewer students took the test in Hampton One in 2010 than in 2009. While the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) remains the most popular college entrance exam in South Carolina, many students take both, and many colleges accept both.
Of the 80 students who took the test, the composite score for each subject was: English - 17.2, Math - 17.7, Reading -17.8, and Science -18.2.
In 2009 students earned composites of 15.6 in English, 17.0 in Math, 16.3 in Reading, and 16.9 in science.
Hampton Two students scored an overall composite score of 14.8, which is a decrease from the 15.5 earned in 2009. The 36 students taking the test earned composites of 12.8 in English, 16.1 in Math, 13.9 in Reading, and 15.9 in science.
In 2009 students earned composites of 13.7 in English, 15.7 in math, 16.0 in reading, and 16.1 in science.
Hampton Two Superintendent Dr. Deonia Simmons could not be immediately reached for comment Tuesday.
More students took the test in Hampton Two this year than took it in 2009.
While the ACT differs from the SAT in several ways - the ACT is more of a reasoning test, while its counterpart is based more on curriculum learned in the classroom - McTeer warned that neither is truly an accurate measure of college success.
"Neither is a very good indicator of college success," he added. "College success is more about hard work that anything else."