Academic Test Scores
When we say Owensboro Catholic Schools are academically excellent, we have many measures on which to stake this claim. First of all, our elementary schools, the middle school and the high school are certified by standards of academic excellence. All schools are accredited by the State of Kentucky, Department of Education. In addition, the Owensboro Catholic Schools are evaluated by the National Catholic Educational Association, the Kentucky Non-Public School Commission and the National Committee for Private Education, which requires professional development for teachers. A second way to judge the academic excellence of a school has traditionally been student performance on national testing. On the average, Catholic school students perform above the national norm for the particular tests chosen. Owensboro Catholic Schools go well beyond that measure as evidenced in the accompanying charts.
The Owensboro Catholic Schools can boast the highest composite scores in the region and exceed national and state averages on the ACT, PLAN and EXPLORE tests!
ACT
The possible range of scores is from 1 - 36.
PLAN: An ACT Program for Educational and Career Planning
The PLAN Test is taken each year to assist Grade 10 students at OCHS in evaluating educational and career options. Once again, the OCHS scores were above national averages in all areas.
The possible range of scores if from 1 - 32.
EXPLORE: An ACT Program for Educational Planning
Each year the Grade 8 students at OCMS take the Explore Test to evaluate their academic standings as well as learn of career opportunities for the future. Once again, OCMS exceeded national averages.
The possible range of scores is from 1 - 25.
Standardized Test Results – ITBS Test
This year OCS, in conjunction with all Catholic Schools in the Owensboro Diocese, administered the ITBS Achievement Test in place of the CAT6 Achievement Test. The ITBS is a more comprehensive and rigorous test. Teachers use the results to guide instruction within the classroom.
The scores reflect a National Percentile Rank. It is determined by comparing how well our students did with other children across the nation who took the same test. For example, if OCS scored in the 78th percentile, this translates to OCS students performed better than 78 percent of the others who took the same test.
The “average” score would be the 50th percentile, and you can see by looking at the tests that OCS students score well above the national average!
