September
23, 2015
TO: All Media
FROM: Pat Raynor, Dorchester School District Two
Dorchester School District Two students top
state average on ACT WorkKeys®
In
recently released state ACT WorkKeys® scores, 90.3% of Dorchester School
District Two high school juniors demonstrated work readiness in the first
statewide administration of this job skills assessment. In the spring of 2015, 11th grade students throughout the state
took the new three-part test which consists of Applied Mathematics, Locating
Information, and Reading for Information.
Students receive a National Careers Readiness Certificate when they earn
scores of three or higher on all three tests.
District-wide,
1,611 students took WorkKeys® in 2015, with 90.3% earning certificates.
Dorchester School District Two’s performance topped the statewide average of
87.9 %. Realizing the value of such an
assessment to ensure our students are prepared for college and careers,
Dorchester School District Two began administering WorkKeys® to all high school
juniors in 2012-2013, two years before the statewide testing began.
Students
may receive one of four certificate distinctions based upon their performance
and skills mastery on each of the three tests. Bronze, Silver, Gold, and
Platinum distinctions are awarded for scores of three, four, five, or six,
respectively.
The WorkKeys®
assessment
system was created by ACT, the nonprofit testing organization that helps
employers select, hire, train, develop, and retain a high-performance
workforce. The school district has set a goal for every high school
graduate to earn National Career Readiness Certification (NCRC), as measured by
the WorkKeys®
assessments, in addition to their diploma. This certification is an industry-recognized,
evidence-based credential that certifies the essential skills needed for
workplace success. A growing number of
business and industries in South Carolina utilize the WorkKeys® assessment and NCRC certification for employment.
Below is
the breakdown of certificates earned by Dorchester School District Two
11th grade students:
·
Bronze Certificates: 24.4 percent of students
scored a level three or higher on all exams.
·
Silver Certificates: 38.4 percent of students
scored a level four or higher on all exams.
·
Gold Certificates: 26.2 percent of students
scored a level of five or higher on all exams.
·
Platinum Certificates: 1.3 percent of students
scored a level six or higher on all exams.
Director of Economic Development, John Truluck: “Workforce
has risen to the #1 site selection criteria for manufacturers looking for a new
location. Having an abundance of
trained, available workers will differentiate us from the competition. Congratulations to Dorchester District II for
producing our next generation of superior employees.”
