• Redefining Ready

    College Ready, Career Ready, Life ReadyOxford School District has a profound responsibility to ensure that its high school students are college ready, career ready, and life ready. Standardized test scores — traditionally used as the primary readiness indicator — do not always provide an accurate representation of our students’ potential. Like the global economy, today’s students are driven by ideas and innovations. They should not be reduced down to, or defined by, a single test score.

    Redefining Ready! is a national initiative launched by the AASA (The School Superintendents Association) to introduce new research-based metrics to more appropriately assess that students are college ready, career ready and life ready.

    The initiative is a response to dismal college and career readiness scores reported by standardized test makers that fail to portray a comprehensive picture of student potential.

    Our students are more than a score.

      Benchmark Comparison

      • Our nation’s high schools provide students with rigorous academic programs, personalized and career-specific learning experiences, along with social and emotional skills that prepare them to be global citizens in an ever-changing world.

        Students learn in a variety of ways. They should be able to demonstrate readiness in a variety of ways.

        The new readiness indicators, developed from research by world-class organizations, more accurately reflect the educational landscape of the 21st century. Multiple metrics include Advanced Placement courses, Algebra II, early college credits, industry credentials, attendance, community service, among others.

        Readiness Benchmarks: Redefining Ready vs. Mississippi Standards
        Benchmarks Redefining Ready Mississippi Department of Education (MDE)
        Traditional Diploma Career Technical Endorsement Academic Endorsement Academic Distinguished Endorsement Diploma Endorsements Combined
        Attendance YES NO NO NO NO NO
        GPA (2.8 or higher) YES NO NO NO YES YES
        Algebra II YES NO
        (only Algebra I required)        		 NO
        (only Algebra I required)        		 YES YES YES
        ACT/SAT YES NO NO NO
        (only math and English)        		 NO
        (only math and English)        		 NO
        (only math and English)
        Advanced Placement (AP) YES NO NO YES YES YES
        College & Technical Education (CTE) YES NO YES NO NO YES
        Dual Enrollment YES NO YES YES YES YES
        Industry Credential YES NO YES NO NO YES
        Work Experience YES NO NO NO NO NO
        NCRC - WorkKeys YES NO YES NO NO YES
        Community Service YES NO NO NO NO NO
        Extra-Curriculars YES NO NO NO NO NO
        Academic and Career Planning YES YES YES YES YES YES
        Dispositions (Portrait of a Graduate) YES NO NO NO NO NO
        State Assessments NO YES YES YES YES YES

      Ready for College

      • College ReadyStudents are College Ready if they meet either the academic indicators OR standardized testing benchmarks listed below.

        Academic Indicators

        GPA 2.8 out of 4.0 and one or more of the following academic indicators:

        • Advanced Placement Exam (3+)
        • Advanced Placement Course (A, B, or C)
        • Dual Credit College English and/or Math (A, B, or C)
        • College Developmental/Remedial English and/or Math (A, B, or C)
        • Algebra II (A, B, or C)
        • International Baccalaureate Exam (4+)

        Standardized Testing Benchmarks (minimum scores)

        • SAT Exam:
          • Math (530)
          • Reading and Writing (480)
        • ACT Exam:
          • English (18)
          • Reading (22)
          • Science (23)
          • Math (22)
        • College Readiness Placement Assessment (determined by post-secondary institution)

        Additional Factors that Contribute to College Success

        Earning As, Bs, Cs; FAFSA Completion; Enrollment in career pathway course sequence; College Academic Advising; Participation in College Bound Bridge Programs; Senior year math class; Completion of a math class after Algebra II

      Ready for Career

      • Career ReadyStudents are Career Ready if they have identified a career interest and meet two of the behavioral and experiential benchmarks listed below. In addition, students entering the military upon graduation must meet the passing scores on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) for each branch of the military.

        Career Cluster Identified and two or more of the following benchmarks:

        • 90% Attendance
        • 25 hours of Community Service
        • Workplace Learning Experience
        • Industry Credential
        • Dual Credit Career Pathway Course
        • Two or more organized Co-Curricular activities

      Ready for Life

      • Life ReadyBeing Life Ready means students leave high school with the grit and perseverance to tackle and achieve their goals by demonstrating personal actualization skills of self-awareness, self-management, social-awareness, responsible decision making, and relationship skills.

        Students who are Life Ready possess the growth mindset that empowers them to approach their future with confidence, to dream big and to achieve big.

        Our nation’s schools provide social and emotional support and experiences to equip students with life skills to succeed in the present and in the future.