Page 58 - 2015 Compass Now

Table 5: Average ACT Scores (max. 36)

County/Region 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
22.5
La Crosse 22.2 22.1 22.6 22.8
21.6
Monroe 21.7 21.6 22.4 21.6 21.8
22.0
Trempealeau 22.0 21.6 21.8 21.7 22.2
22.0
Vernon 21.4 20.1 21.7 22.2 23.0
20.9
WI State 22.3 22.1 22.2 22.1

Houston 23.2 23.6 22.8 22.2

MN State 22.7 22.9 22.9 22.8

National 21.1 21.0 21.1 21.1

Source: Wisconsin Department of Instruction, Minnesota Department of Education

Student Services

EDUCATION Students come to school with basic needs, such as hunger, shelter, safety, or family support system,
which can have a profound impact on the ability to be successful. It is also vital that students have a strong
and positive relationship with at least one adult in their lives. This relationship helps children and teens
develop high self-esteem, independence, and good decision-making skills. In one study of more than
3,300 teenagers, researchers found that teens who had the benefit of a mentor made significantly better
choices about risky behaviors. These mentors can be parents, teachers, coaches, neighbors, ministers, or
counselors19. Youth who work with a mentor are 27% less likely to start drinking and 46% less likely to use
illegal drugs20. Youth who have a mentor also show an overall reduction in depression symptoms21.

Some other examples of barriers to learning include mental illness, being uninsured, living in poverty,
experiencing abuse, having a difficult home environment, and the use and/or abuse of drugs. Every two
years a national survey of young people called the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) is conducted by the
CDC to monitor health risks. Between 2011 and 2013, students in grades 9-12 in the Great Rivers Region
were surveyed using the YRBS and the Minnesota Student Survey. The results of the survey point to a
number of alarming issues facing students today including tobacco use, inhalant use, physical abuse by
boyfriend or girlfriend, bullying on school property, electronic bullying, sexual activity, and attempting
suicide. These issues are discussed more extensively in the COMPASS Health profile but are worth
mentioning here, as they affect education outcomes. Table 6 summarizes YRBS findings on risky behaviors
youth of the Great Rivers Region participate in.

Table 6: Select 2013 Youth Risk Behaviors

YRBS Data La Crosse Monroe Trempealeau Vernon WI Houston

Used tobacco Tobacco Use 31.0%
products in past 30 9.5%
days 19.8% 11.6% 10.2% 14.0% 8.0%
Smoked in past 30 5.5%
days 13.5% 17.4% 12.6% 10.4% 12.0% N/A
22.5% Alcohol Use
Binge drinking in 15.8% 16.4% 18.4%
past 30 days 6.9% 16.5% 7.6% 8.9%
Drove after drinking
in past 30 days 8.8% 8.8%

50 COMPASS NOW 2015