The Challenge We Face
Factor 4: Overall student performance falling short
The performance of Minnesota students may exceed national averages but still fall short of what we need. Only one-third of Minnesota high school students meet college readiness benchmarks, as measured through ACT scores on math, science, reading and English.
Source: ACT Scores, Minnesota Office of Higher Education
Minnesota earns a "B" in college preparation according to a national report card. Compared to the top five performing states, Minnesota ranks significantly lower on percentage of 8th-graders taking algebra (25% vs. 47%), 9th-12th-graders taking an upper-level math course (42% vs. 64%) and an upper-level science course (27% vs. 46%).
Source: Measuring Up, 2008, National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education.
Our performance also often lags behind our global competition. Consider 8th grade math performance: 43 percent of our students are proficient compared to 73 percent in Singapore.
Source: Chance Favors the Prepared Mind: Mathematics and Science Indicators for Comparing States and Nations (p. 57 of the PDF, 1.9 MB), American Institutes for Research
