Seven Murrah students, including two juniors, recently joined the Over 30 Club at Murrah High School for achieving scores of 30 or above out of a possible 36 on the ACT college entrance exam.
Students with ACT scores over 30 were in the 95th percentile of all students who took the test. Obviously, earning scores above 30 increases postsecondary opportunities for students. Joshua Mannery, who scored a 33 on the test as a junior, started a wall where he has posted several acceptance letters from colleges. Rounding out the club are fellow junior Brandon Hedrick and seniors Lauren Allen, Douglas Campbell, Joseph Neyland, Ashley Szabo-Johnson and Charles Davis.
 |
| Murrah High School Over 30 Club (from left) Charles Davis, Douglas Campbell, Lauren Allen, Ashley Szabo-Johnson, Joshua Mannery, Joseph Neyland, and Brandon Hedrick |
So, what was the secret to their success?
"We get two to three waivers to take the ACT free, some students don’t even use them," said Szabo-Johnson. "Take the test and take it often. That’s how I increased my score."
"The national average is 19 to 20, and when students get that they stop there, but you don’t have to settle for that score," said Allen.
Aiming for the higher scores pays for Mississippi students. Scores of 29 or higher along with a qualifying GPA of 3.5 can mean a guaranteed award of $2,500 per year for students who choose to attend a Mississippi postsecondary institution. Additionally, individual colleges and universities, both in and out of state, offer institutional awards for the higher ACT scores.
The ACT is a national college admissions examination that consists of subject area tests in English, mathematics, reading, and science. The test is comprised of 215 multiple-choice questions and takes approximately three and half hours to complete. ACT scores are accepted by all four-year colleges and universities in the United States as part of the admissions process. The ACT.org website provides information to help high school students register and prepare for the ACT.
