The Condition of College & Career Readiness, 2012

This report focuses on the college and career readiness levels of the ACT[R]-tested US high school graduating class of 2012. The report represents 52 percent of all 2012 graduates in the United States. Findings in the report suggest that for this cohort of tested students, the condition of college and career readiness has slightly improved over the past several years, specifically in the subject areas of math and science. While encouraging, far too many students are graduating from high school ill-prepared for the academic rigors of college and career. The results again indicate that the US education system must do better at helping our young people to compete with their peers in other nations for meaningful jobs and careers in the 21st century global economy. As a trusted, not-for-profit leader in research on college and career readiness, ACT is committed to continuing our efforts to provide data and information to help solve the daunting problems faced by our nation. In future years, ACT research and data will be designed to provide insights not only on academic achievement but on student behavior and goals, which when combined will help individuals better prepare for success throughout their lives, from kindergarten through career. These new efforts will broaden and extend our core mission: Helping people achieve education and career success. The data in this report provide continued insights that will help inform and guide our collective efforts to improve college and career readiness for the next generation of young people now making their way through the US education system. A list of resources is included. (Contains 1 footnote.) [For "The Condition of College & Career Readiness, 2011," see ED522992.]