Shawnee Mission reports rising ACT and improved Kansas assessment outcomes; district readies interim-measure goal-setting

Shawnee Mission Board of Education members heard Jan. 22 that the district’s ACT and Kansas assessment results showed gains in 2024 and that district leaders will rely on interim assessments to guide building-level improvement work.

‘‘Our test scores are up,’’ said Dan Gruman, Director of Assessment Research, as he opened the board’s annual review of ACT and Kansas assessment data. Gruman and other leadership staff framed results alongside shifting state and college testing policies.

District results: Gruman reported the district ACT composite for the class of 2024 at 22.0, a rebound from the lower averages seen in recent years as testing patterns changed during and after the pandemic. The portion of students who self‑reported completion of a college‑preparatory ‘‘core or more’’ sequence rose to about 42% for the 2024 cohort (up from approximately 40% the year prior),…