ACT: 1 in 3 Students Not Ready for College

The company that conducts the annual ACT tests for high school seniors has some pretty bleak numbers about this year's results. The big one is that 31% missed the minimum benchmark in all four of the test's categories: English, science, math, and reading, reports the AP. Theoretically, that means they're not ready for college-level work in any of those areas. Some other highlights:

• Only 26% were ready in all four of those subjects. Among black students, that percentage sinks to 5%. Other groups: Asian-Americans, 43%; whites, 33%; Hispanics, 14%; and American Indians,10%.
• Students' interests don't seem to mesh with projected jobs. For instance, only 6% were interested in the field of education, though 17% of job openings are projected to be in that field in 2020; only 2% are interested in the computer and IT fields, versus a projected 11% of job openings.

"The readiness of students leaves a lot to be desired," says the president of the testing company. (A Jezebel blogger, however, blames biased standardized tests.)