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ACT Scores Show Many Illinois Students Aren't Ready For College

CHICAGO (CBS) -- The class of 2011 is heading off to college this fall, but a new study suggests many aren't ready.

As WBBM Newsradio's Regine Schlesinger reports, an analysis of Illinois ACT scores indicates more than 75 percent of Illinois high school graduates from both public and private schools aren't completely prepared for college.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio's Regine Schlesinger reports

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The results, which are set to be released later Wednesday, show only 23 percent of students who graduated from high school in Illinois this year met college readiness standards in English, reading, math and science.

Paul Weeks, assistant vice president for state programs for the ACT, said the trends in Illinois mirror figures nationwide.

"We need to get more students taking the core courses. We need to make sure that those courses are, in fact, developing the skills that have been identified as essential for success," Weeks said.

The news was worst for science. Only 28 percent of the 2011 Illinois graduating class scored high enough to predict they may get a C or better in the typical college freshmen biology course.

(TM and © Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS Radio and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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