North Introduces ACT Prep Classes For Eligible Juniors in the Fall

The new ACT prep classes will be implemented in the fall, with this year’s sophomores being the first class to experience this new change. “The whole idea of the classes is that students will be able to get better at test taking skills and context,” said Marquart.

With the ACT carrying pressures such as getting into one’s dream school and earning scholarships, many students seek out tutors and prep courses to help them prepare for the test. While beneficial, many of these avenues are costly and are done in conjunction with everyday school work. In an effort to alleviate some of this stress while allowing students to get the best preparation possible for the test, North is introducing ACT prep classes for eligible rising juniors starting next year.

Although North has provided juniors and seniors with after school ACT prep classes three weeks prior to its corresponding test, the classes introduced in the fall will differ. These classes will be considered as courses to be taken over the duration of a semester.

“In the coming year, there are an identified group of students who are currently sophomores who will be taking an ACT prep class during the school day,” said principal Jenny Marquart.

Sophomores were chosen based on their performance on the practice ACT exams they took during this year, as well as their freshman year. They were then notified about their acceptance to the course during course registration.

“I think this could be really beneficial because it’s a class that is helping to prep for the ACT specifically,” said sophomore Madolyn Jewel.

Eligible students were chosen based on their test score of “somewhere between 17-22. If their scores were projected to be that [for the actual test], we encourage them to take the ACT prep class,” said Marquart.

The classes will be focused on English, reading, and grammar taught by English teacher Debbie Banashek-Twist, as well as math and science, taught by science teacher Allen Daniels who has “extensive background in ACT prep” according to Marquart.

“There will be two groups of students; one will study with Mr. Daniels, while the other will study with Ms. B-T for three weeks. They will then switch. Students will do this for the course of the semester, taking full length practice exams, getting better at taking the test, and doing graph analysis. So, they’ll be practicing skills as well as content,” said Marquart.

Despite having the option to drop the course, students chosen for it are encouraged to participate due to its potential to help increase test scores.

“We believe that by taking test segments more frequently, people will get more comfortable in the pressure filled situation,” said Marquart.

North also finds the introduction to these courses a benefit to students who can’t afford expensive test prep. Also, because it is during the day, “kids who are athletes or who have home obligations [that prevent them from attending afterschool sessions] can have access to test prep,” said Marquart.

“It’s helpful for everybody, even the people who can’t afford [expensive test prep],” said Jewel. “In many situations, people who have more money are able to score better because they can pay for those resources,  and people who can’t afford it don’t get the benefit. I think [what North is doing] is cool because now everybody has equal opportunity.”

Roshae Hemmings, Editor-in-Chief