White County Posts Big Gains On ACT

White County students greatly improved their ACT scores.

The state Education Department Tuesday said ACT scores improved statewide, but White County posted the largest gains in the state.

White County Schools Director Kurt Dronebarger said White County High has been devoted to raising the scores.

“Just want to congratulate principal Grant Swallows and his team for their hard work, it’s not been one year, it’s been several years of working hard and certainly the students have risen to the challenge,” Swallows said.

White County students collectively raised their composite ACT score nearly two points to 20.3. That’s higher than the statewide average of 20.1

“We are 7 tenths of the way from meeting our state goal of 21 so if we can replicate what we did last year, we’ll surpass that even more,” Dronebarger said.

Statewide, 3,500 more students took the test this year.

The ACT is one of the two college entrance exams. Tennessee students must score a 21 or higher to qualify for the HOPE scholarship.