The ACT is an important piece of Junior year for students all over the U.S. In 2023, according to the National Center for Education Statistics about 36% of students nationally were projected to take the ACT. The maximum score of the ACT is 36 and a minimum of 1. The composite score that each student gains after they take the ACT is made up of multiple different tests. These tests include Math, Science, Reading, English, and Writing. Each focuses on core skills learned throughout the entirety of a student’s life in school.
On March 12th, West Salem Juniors took their ACT. Class of 2027 had the best scores in years, even before the ACT was recalled due to miscalculations in students scores.
On May 15th, 2026, the Junior class had to have their ACT scores recalled due to improper calculations due to it being first time West Salem students took an online ACT test according to the ACT website. Revised tests were returned to students as of May 22nd. Students scores were not able to go down and were only able to stay the same or go up. The Junior classes already high score increased even more.
Students who may have felt unhappy with their scores were given a second chance with this news.
Junior Jaxon Ranallo said “I had a score I wasn’t happy with. It’s not that it was bad, it just was not what I was looking for.”
In the events that scores were reissued, a large portion of the Junior class gained up to 2 additional points on their composite scores, and possibly an additional 4 points on separate tests.
Another Junior, student Liam Haugland felt happy with his original score, stating “My original score was in no way bad at all. I’m not allowed to share my score, right? Either way, my composite score was in the bottom 20s and is now at say mid-20s.”
Not all students scores increased though. Some students with high scores did not see an increase in the total composite scores. Most students may have visually seen a switch in separate scores like Math or Reading and not seen a switch in anything else.
Overall the Junior class has everything to be proud of after getting their scores back. It is an honor to take the test, and a major privilege to then have their scores reissued. After all, ACT scores do not define students education after graduation, but it is always nice to do well.