RHS Graduates May Not Get Scholarships

Disadvantages Faced by Rich High Students Trying To Earn University Academic Scholarships

Chris Coray, Ph.D., Mathematics,
Emeritus Professor, Utah State University

RE:  Rich School's choice of non-honors math curriculum core:

Having spent parts of my 35 year academic career in selecting students for academic scholarships at Utah State University I wish to point out a reason why students in this district are at a disadvantage in earning such scholarships at USU and other schools.

In awarding academic scholarships it was and continues to be very hard to choose the strongest students based on high school GPA.  It is not possible for scholarship evaluators to identify the strength of academic programs at all the high schools from which the students come.  Hence, a far more valuable tool for evaluators to use is the score received on national tests.  In Utah most college bound students take the ACT, but the SAT exam is completely acceptable.   One of the sections in both exams is mathematics.  There is no calculus on the ACT or the SAT but college algebra and trigonometry are on both. 

With the new standard “common core” mathematics curriculum in place, and if students do not have an alternate honors mathematics sequence opportunity then at the end of common core (junior year) they will not have covered some of the material examined by the ACT.  On the other hand, those completing an honors common core math sequence (not available at Rich) will have covered all the material contained in the ACT (and be calculus ready).  The national testing dates for the ACT this year are in September, October, December, and later times beginning in February.  But applications for scholarships are generally due in February or early March.  Thus a student here who takes the ACT as a junior or even as a beginning senior enrolled in concurrent enrollment college algebra/trigonometry will not at the time of the test have encountered or had time to master some of the math material contained in the ACT. 

This means that in general students without the appropriate course work opportunity will not do as well on the ACT as their counterparts who have had extra training.  Earning academic scholarships is hard enough without problems that come from lack of opportunity. 

Additionally, in many cases even admission to some universities requires a high ACT score.  For example, the average ACT composite score for freshmen admitted to BYU in 2012 was 28.4 (perfect is 36).  It is very difficult to be admitted to BYU with an ACT composite lower than 26.  If students seek academic scholarships to strong schools (or in some cases, just admission) high ACT scores are essential.  Rich High School should add an honors math core sequence to its curriculum to provide students equal opportunity for academic scholarships or admission.