Lee’s Summit R-7 students exceed national, state ACT averages

ACT scores exceed state and U.S. averages

Lee’s Summit School District scored above state and national averages on the ACT college entrance exam during the 2016-17 school year.

R-7 students averaged 21.9 on the composite score, compared to 20.4 statewide and 21 for the national average. The highest possible score is a 36.

Lee’s Summit students also scored above the state and national averages in all four specific subjects tested — English, mathematics, reading and science.

All students in the Class of 2016 and Class of 2017 at Missouri public high schools took the ACT test at school during their junior year, because of a change in state assessment procedures.

In addition, some students take the test again at their own expense. For students taking multiple ACT tests, their highest score is counted by their colleges. The ACT score included in the district average is the most current test taken by the student.

The ACT assesses high school students’ general educational development and their ability to complete college-level work. Multiple-choice tests cover four subject areas, while the writing test measures skill in planning and writing a short essay.

Tiger Broadcast is finalist for ‘Pulitzer Prize of scholastic journalism’

A program produced by Lee’s Summit High School students is among the nation’s top scholastic broadcast news programs recognized by the National Scholastic Press Association.

A November 2016 Tiger Broadcast news show was among 15 finalists in the association’s Pacemaker competition.

Editors of the nearly 13-minute program were Jaclyn Berry and Jared Newell. The adviser is Elaine McDonald.

The broadcast covered the city’s downtown farmers’ market, students in a rock band, the Lee’s Summit High School winter guard and a student whose little brother is a leukemia survivor.

“The Pacemaker is the association’s preeminent award and is often called the Pulitzer Prize of scholastic journalism,” NSPA Executive Director Laura Widmer said. “NSPA is honored to recognize the best of the best.”

The NSPA Pacemaker award started a few years after the organization was founded in 1921. A broadcasting award was added in 1996 to reflect its growing importance at the high school level.

Each school entered three programs from the 2016-2017 school year. A team of three judges from College Broadcasters Inc. viewed each entry.

“The Pacemaker-winning entries stood out for their quality, not only in the production, but in the stories being told, the writing, editing and hosting, and the willingness to tackle controversial topics,” the judging team said. “These were exceptional newscasts start to finish.”

Shows were divided into live and prerecorded categories. The frequency of the broadcast was also considered. Daily shows competed in one category with less frequent broadcasts competing in another.

The 15 Pacemaker finalists included 14 high schools and one middle school representing eight states. Eight of the broadcasts will be named Pacemaker winners during a conference in November.

Three from R-7 are National Merit semifinalists

Three students from the Lee’s Summit School District have been named National Merit semifinalists by virtue of their scores on the qualifying test.

The three Lee’s Summit West High School students — Joshua Foster, Alex Geoghegan and Maggie O’Connor — can now compete for the prestigious National Merit scholarships.

Foster’s activities include Symphony Orchestra, Chess Club, robotics, Scholar Bowl, Science Bowl and Spanish Honor Society.

Geoghegan participates in cross country, track, Una Voce Choir and concert choir. He was chosen for the Missouri Scholars Academy and scored a perfect 36 on the ACT college admissions exam.

O’Connor serves as debate co-president, Spanish Honor Society president and National Honor Society officer. She is a member of Kindness Council, Titan Ambassadors and Student Senate. She was selected for Missouri Scholars Academy and was elected Youth in Government Clark State Convention governor. ​

All three are International Baccalaureate diploma candidates.

Understanding the adolescent brain

Lee’s Summit CARES will present a Parent University session the evening of Nov. 13 on adolescent brain development.

The course will feature a discussion of brain development during a child’s transition to adulthood, including how the process of brain maturation influences behavior. It also will include ways that parents can provide safeguards during this time.

The $10 course will run from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 13 at the Summit Lakes Middle School library, 3500 S.W. Windemere Drive. Register online at www.LSCares.org.

Vendors sought for Holiday Mart at LS West

Vendor applications are being accepted for the sixth annual Holiday Mart, scheduled for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 9 at Lee’s Summit West High School, 2600 Ward Road.

To obtain an application or for additional information, email Ruthie Paulson at lswholidaymart@gmail.com. The sponsoring organization is the school’s Journalism Parents Group, which uses the money for scholarships and program needs.

Journalism students will help vendors load and unload during set-up and take-down times. Each vendor is asked to donate an item for a donation/giveaway.

This story was originally published September 18, 2017 at 1:31 PM with the headline "Lee’s Summit R-7 students exceed national, state ACT averages."