Jack and Jill of America Foundation invests in rising seniors' ACT scores
Camp S’More Points – a two-week, bootcamp-style ACT prep course – goes deep with high-leverage test-taking skills ahead of the July official ACT.
By Elin Hawkinson
In an increasingly test-optional higher-education landscape, the question arises: does the ACT really matter anymore? Yes, if you live in Louisiana. Thanks to TOPS (the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students), a 20 composite score on the ACT nets tuition assistance at any in-state public school; higher scores come with yearly stipends. Nationally, thousands of degree-granting schools, whether test-optional or not, use ACT scores as a benchmark for institutional aid. Important? This singular achievement can be enough to catalyze long-term economic mobility for lower-income students by removing dependency on student loans.
With all that’s at stake financially, recent ACT score data is troubling. East Baton Rouge Parish students average a composite score of 17.5 (out of 36), slightly below the state average of 18.1 and a full two points below the national average of 19.8. That means the majority of students in EBR, Louisiana, and the country wouldn’t qualify for TOPS. Meanwhile, BRYC’s last four graduating classes increased their scores 3.4 points and earned a 22.6 on average while in BRYC.
Camp S’More Points takes place in the summer between junior and senior year; rising seniors have recently completed 90 hours of BRYC’s ACT curriculum and taken at least two official ACT tests, as well as practice tests proctored by BRYC. Camp programming, while rigorous, is designed for maximum engagement with a unique theme, special decor, games, and prizes. And though “cramming” is never considered an effective strategy, participating in an intensive, targeted course prior to an official test has historically achieved, on average, a minimum one point increase.
As in the past three years, Camp culminated with Campers taking the official ACT test on July 15. Director of Upperclassmen Learning Aareena Dhillon-Latona, who drives all ACT efforts, and Learning Managers Christian Duborg and Chasity Kelley helped Campers register themselves earlier this spring, with BRYC paying the registration fee. Since 2020, ACT registration fees have jumped from $55 to $66 – a full 20%. BRYC is enormously grateful to the Jack and Jill of America Foundation for sponsoring this year’s Camp, as their generous contribution was allocated almost entirely to registration fees for all 71 Campers.
Now that Camp is over, we excitedly await the test results and look forward to supporting Campers through the college admissions and financial aid processes as they officially become Senior Fellows in the Class of 2024!
If you would like to support BRYC’s ACT programs or sponsor a Fellow’s ACT test registration fees, you can make a donation online or email Elin Hawkinson at [email protected]. Thank you!
