ACT scores in Orleans Parish Public Schools are one of the highest scores in Louisiana since Hurricane Katrina.

According to the Louisiana Department of Education, ACT scores in Orleans Parish Public Schools have increased to 20.9 in 2015, which is a 3.9 percent increase from 17.0 before Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

The average ACT score in the entire state has also risen by 0.2 percent to 19.6 in 2015. However, this is a decrease of 0.2 percent when compared to the average ACT score in 2004 which was 19.8.

Alexina Medley, principal at Warren Easton Charter High School, tells her students who take the test every year that the ACT opens a lot of doors and opportunities to students of all backgrounds.

“It means that the kids in public schools here actually rely on the value of this test. It can bring them scholarships and opportunities, they know that now. We push for them to get scores higher than a 19 or 18 on the ACT,” Medley said.

Woddy Copel, an Orleans Parish school board member, said that the city has come a long way since Hurricane Katrina in which many thought that New Orleans public schools would take up to 20 years to fully recover from the storm.

“This shows that we’re going in the right direction, and that teachers and parents are working hard to get our kids prepared. This is truly the fruits of our labor,” Copel said.

The ACT is the first step in showing colleges what knowledge a student has learned in high school. It helps students with scholarships and gaining attention from colleges.

Harold Clay, principal of Edna Karr High School, said that sticking with school should be the main goal for future college students.

“We’re doing great when it comes to getting our students to compete and make it to college, but we want them to get there and finish,” Clay said. “We work on making sure that when they get there they don’t just go for a couple semesters, but that they graduate and get their degrees”.