Published: Monday, November 08, 2010, 6:30 AM
MOBILE, Ala. - LeFlore High School student Courtney Johnson is learning about time management.
The 16-year-old sophomore hopes it will help her get a high score on the ACT college entrance exam, or at least a higher score than her practice ACT test. The teen ran out of time before completing the reading portion of the practice exam.
“I was nervous,” said Johnson, sitting in a classroom at LeFlore recently with her tutor.
With the help of some Spring Hill College students, Johnson is learning how to manage her time better.
She is one of 110 LeFlore students staying after school for ACT tutoring.
With the aid of a $50,000 grant, Spring Hill College developed the College Access Initiative, which is designed to increase the percentage of low-income, public school students who apply to college. The college students are helping with ACT test preparation and financial aid workshops.
E.G. Scott, post-secondary specialist at LeFlore, said the number of students taking the ACT has doubled in the past two years. Last month, 150 LeFlore students took the ACT test, but haven’t yet received results.
Statewide, more students in Alabama are taking the ACT, according to the Iowa City-based ACT Inc. The college entrance exam is a voluntary test that colleges in the South often use to decide which students to admit and to offer scholarships,
Locally, Scott credits the increase in students to the Spring Hill tutoring program and the fact that LeFlore has been declared an ACT national test center. LeFlore students can now take the test at their own school.
Taking the test in familiar surroundings, said Scott, alleviates a lot of anxiety and fear for students.
“When they walk in that door and see a familiar face they are at ease,” said Scott.
On a recent afternoon, the Spring Hill and LeFlore students met in three separate classrooms preparing for next month’s ACT test.
“These are kids who are ambitious and with assistance could get scores higher into scholarship range,” said Kathleen Orange, director of Spring Hill’s Foley Center, a community service group.
Spring Hill junior Rachel Woods knows tutoring can help improve a score. She credits a tutor with helping her study for the exam.
“It gives people more confidence and helps them know what to expect,” said Woods.
LeFlore student Lindsey Ramos felt comfortable with her tutor, Spring Hill freshman Shardena Jones. The two played softball together last year at LeFlore.
“It’s beneficial to give back to the school I attended,” said Jones, a LeFlore graduate.
LeFlore junior Eddie Thompson said he plans to get a high score.
“I know if I fail, I can take it again,” said Thompson.
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