ACT® Case Study: Data-Driven Prep at St. Croix Central School District

St. Croix Central School District in Hammond, Wisconsin, is deeply committed to preparing students for life beyond high school. With ACT® scores playing a vital role in post-secondary opportunities, the district faced several familiar challenges:

• Difficulty tracking student growth across multiple assessments
• Time management issues during timed ACT® sections
• A trimester schedule that left some students without current English or math instruction during test windows

To address these issues, the district partnered with Progress Learning, implementing benchmark assessments and leveraging real-time data insights to drive targeted instruction and improve outcomes. Key highlights from the case study include:

• 5% Increase in English Punctuation Scores – After benchmarks revealed punctuation as a key area for growth, targeted instruction led to measurable score improvement on subsequent assessments.

• Improved Pacing on the ACT® – Students showed an 85% accuracy rate on verb-form questions and strengthened time management skills with modeled pacing strategies.

• Strategic Reading Interventions – Teachers used benchmark data to address vocabulary and passage comprehension, resulting in increased confidence and engagement in reading tasks.

• Instruction Informed by Actionable Data – Educators appreciated the ability to “zero in” on what students needed most, boosting both teaching precision and student motivation.

By continuing to leverage Progress Learning’s tools, St. Croix Central is seeing real results—empowering students with the confidence and skills they need to succeed on the ACT® and beyond.