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Meet Cleo Jones, 11th Grader who has excelled in our ACT Prep class!
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 Describe the ACT Prep class & how it has helped you. We take the class every day, starting this spring semester. I think it will help me raise my score. Since I've taken the class, overall my grades have gone up. I used to struggle on the math part of the ACT, but my math scores have gone up.
Any tips you've learned from the class? We learned that in the reading and English parts, there's information added in that you don't really need. Most of the time, the shortest answer is the best answer.
Plans after high school? I want to go to college, but take a gap year. I want to be an educator or work in carpentry. I could even come back and teach at Delta Streets one day!
How has DSA prepared you for your future? It helps builds character and discipline overall. It helps you stay focused and teaches you that grades matter.
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Read how our ACT Prep class taught by Connor Altman has set students up to succeed!
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 Describe the purpose and goal of the ACT Prep class. The purpose is to help our students produce better scores on their ACT by the time that they get ready to graduate. One thing that makes the ACT somewhat scary to students is that they are not very familiar with it other than the couple of times that they take it on test day. We hope that by seeing sections of it everyday, they can/will become more comfortable with taking it and interacting with the test materials.
The class meets every single day for a semester. Last semester was the senior class and this semester we are doing it with the junior class.
Have students improved their scores because of this class? I think that students have grown their scores on the actual test for sure. I think that this is a class where you are able to get out almost exactly what you put in every day. We have some kids who are not very interested in improving their score, and those kids have not improved much. However, the kids who work diligently on the  sections of practice during the class see their scores improve, which is fun for them.
Why do you think ACT prep is important for DSA to offer? Firstly the class helps the students improve their scores on the test, which in turn helps them earn scholarships at the college of their choice. I try and tell our guys daily that high ACT scores literally equals free money.
Secondly as the average scores of our guys improve, the more people both locally and separately understand the educational product that we are producing. We are trying to promote the highest achievement in academics and ACT scores are a great measuring stick for that.
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Thanks to Kids First Education for giving our guys a few tips on taking the ACT!
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In DSA's mission statement, the "highest achievement in academics" is one of our core principles. One might ask how we measure that goal, which is a great question. The ACT is a national test that most students in the southern states take to help determine scholarship opportunities, as well as admittance into certain colleges and universities. The state of Mississippi mandates that all juniors have to take the ACT so we require all of our 8th-12th graders to take it. We know it is not the end all be all, but it does help us gauge where we are with other students locally, statewide, and even nationally.
As of today, the average ACT score for our seniors is 18.5 which is right there with the state average. "Highest achievement in academics" would not be an 18.5, it would be closer to an average of 24-27. We are pushing for that goal and hopeful with the addition of 4th and 5th grade this year, and 2nd and 3rd grade next year, we have a better chance of achieving that goal. One stat that gives me assurance that the process is working is students who made a 95+ after their 8th grade year in all classes have scored over a 26 on their ACT by the time they graduate from DSA. So I have the confidence to look a family in the eyes with the expectation that their son will be in the same boat if he makes all A's beginning his 9th grade year.
(Editor note: One student has tested my philosophy (not on purpose) and made an A in College Algebra at MDCC as a junior but scored a 16 on the math part of the ACT....SO not everyone is a good test taker!)
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DSA is now set up to receive donations through stock transfer!
Please email gblocker@deltastreetsacademy.org with any questions about transferring stock.
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2012 Society
Join the 2012 Society, one of our most popular ways of giving, by donating $20 or more automatically each month from your bank account or credit card. To sign up, visit:
www.deltastreetsacademy.org/give
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