ACT scores for Albert Lea High School 2014-15 graduates were slightly lower than the state average, but higher than the national average, according to results released last week.

The average ACT score for ALHS graduates was 21.7, slightly lower than the 22.7 point average state composite score, but higher than the national average composite score of 21.0.

The average score for the last four years for ALHS graduates includes:

2013-14: 21.8

2012-13: 21.8

2011-12: 22.6

2010-11: 21.6

“We have work to do,” said Kathy Niebuhr, Albert Lea Schools secondary programs coordinator. “That’s not a negative thing. It’s exciting. When the world changes, we change with that.

“When the Department of Education makes changes on what they expect from Minnesota students and schools, we need to make sure we have the core curriculum that allows students to meet those changes.”

Niebuhr said the district’s ACT average is usually below the state average but above the national average.

She said the school is aiming to have an average score of at least 23 on the ACT, greater than the current state average.

To improve the high school’s ACT scores, Niebuhr is taking a look at the school’s secondary curriculum to make sure they align with state standards. She is also waiting to see what other things they can do to make sure student’s scores can increase for writing.

She stressed that additional advanced placement writing coursework is available for the high school.

The district is also looking at advanced coursework at more areas for eight- and ninth-graders so students who are at risk of not staying on track can.

“Our ACT test average is an indication of where we are at a point of time,” said Mike Funk, superintendent at Albert Lea Area Schools. “Unfortunately our trend data has shown we have been under where we want to be for ours. We are implementing our steps to make sure those numbers rise in the future.”

There is new reading and math curriculum for grades K-6 and an adopted K-12 social studies curriculum.

The district is also aiming to achieve a greater than 90 percent graduation rate. The current Albert Lea High School graduation rate is 88.7 percent, but when factored with the Albert Lea Learning Center graduation rate, that number drops to 76.6.

“The high school graduation rate is close to our goal, but we always aim to graduate 100 percent of our students,” Niebuhr said. “We need our students to graduate so they can move on to their next stepping stone in life. It’s close to our goal, but it’s not enough.”