COLUMBIA, Tenn. — 111 Maury County Public Schools students have earned national recognition for their achievements on the PreACT 8/9 exam.

The PreACT Rising Stars program honors students in grades 7-9 who score in the top half of all U.S. students who take the PreACT 8/9 Assessment. That exam provides a preview of the ACT test experience, along with a highly reliable prediction of how students might perform on the ACT. The information is critical in helping schools adjust instruction strategies and demonstrating to students that college could be in reach should they decide to pursue that path.

The PreACT Rising Stars program recognizes students at three levels:

• Distinguished Scholars Award, recognizing students who score in the top 3% of test takers by U.S. Rank. Four Maury County Public Schools students earned this distinction.
• Rising Scholars Award, for students who score in the top 4-10% of test takers by U.S. Rank. 20 Maury County Public Schools students achieved this honor.
• Early Scholars Award, honoring students who score in the top 11-50% of test takers by U.S. Rank. 87 Maury County Public Schools students scored at this level.

“We are incredibly proud of our students for their outstanding performance on the PreACT and for being recognized through the Rising Stars program,” said Maury County Public Schools Superintendent, Lisa Ventura. “The PreACT is an important practice tool that can help students prepare for future standardized testing, helping our students build confidence and develop essential test-taking skills.”

The PreACT 8/9 assessment and the Rising Stars program was created to help identify areas of academic strength and opportunity. This assessment provides a starting point to postsecondary pathways, helping educators, students, and parents have a better understanding of a student’s college and career readiness early in their academic career.

“Early insights into college and career readiness are essential for helping students stay on track and feel supported in their goals,” said Catherine Hofmann, senior vice president of government and public relations at ACT. “The PreACT 8/9 and PreACT Rising Stars program gives educators and families a meaningful way to understand students’ strengths, celebrate their achievements, and guide them toward informed decisions about their futures.”

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