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Students Excel on EXPLORE and PLAN Tests

Published December 13, 2012

The results are in and Williamson County students have reason to celebrate! Test scores for the annual EXPLORE and PLAN exams were released this month and WCS students excelled on both.

About the Tests

The EXPLORE and PLAN test are the first two of three tests in ACT's suite of assessments known as the Educational Planning and Assessment System (EPAS). EXPLORE is given in the fall to each eighth grade student and is used to measure preparedness for high school coursework, increase academic readiness for college and provide exploration into post high school options. PLAN is given in the fall to each tenth grade student and is used to measure current academic development and make plans for the remaining high school years.

Similarly to the ACT, the EXPLORE and PLAN comprise of four subject tests that are averaged into an overall composite score. Scores range from 1-25 for EXPLORE and 1-32 for PLAN. Each subject test also has a defined college readiness benchmark, which is a specific score that predicts a higher probability of success in first-year college courses.

EXPLORE Results

District results for both tests are in and this year's eighth and tenth graders have excelled, out-performing any previous year's cohort both in composite score and college readiness.

The graph below shows the three-year trends in EXPLORE subject and composite scores for Williamson County Schools. Our eighth graders showed gains in all areas, increasing 0.6 points to a composite of 18.2. That's well above the national average composite of 15.5. It isn't shown in the graph, but 37 percent of WCS students achieved the college readiness benchmark in all four subject areas. That's more than double the national percentage.


PLAN Results

In a similar fashion, the graph below shows the three-year trends in PLAN subject and composite scores. The composite of 19.9 is the highest ever for our district, and 2.7 points higher than the national average composite. Thirty-five percent of the students hit the college readiness benchmark in all four subjects, which is seven percent higher than when the same students took the EXPLORE two years ago.