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The student news site of Stillwater Area High School

The Pony Express

The student news site of Stillwater Area High School

The Pony Express

The student news site of Stillwater Area High School

The Pony Express

Senior Ella Chaves sits in class sporting her Cornell University hoodie.

Ella Chaves commits to Cornell University

Brooke Elfert, Business and Distribution Editor June 4, 2022

"Believe in yourself, because you never know what's going to happen," senior Ella Chaves said as advice to anyone in the college admittance process. Chaves has been admitted to attend Cornell University,...

A line graph shows the correlation between higher and lower income families and their student's test scores. Students with lower income families test an average of four points lower than higher income families.

ACT, a non-comprehensive review of students

Katie Kangas, Layout Editor-In-Chief January 16, 2022

While the ACT is a valuable system to gather information about student performance or schools, the ACT should not be used as one of the sole factors that gets students accepted into college because it...

Senior Ava Nyberg works on her college application. Nyberg is working ahead on the parts of the application that she can complete before her ACT is submitted.

Covid restrictions create setbacks for seniors’ college plans

Ella Gag, Social Media Editor in Chief November 6, 2020

Due to COVID-19, seniors are behind on important steps on the college application process like touring colleges and taking the ACT. Seniors have deadlines to meet, and with these setbacks, it is harder...

Photo by Ella Gag

ACT postponed due to COVID-19

Ella Gag, Social Media Editor March 29, 2020

¨I believe that the biggest effect on the Class of 2021 is the emotional impact of the uncertainty that comes with tremendous change,¨ Assistant Principal Chris Otto said.  As the global pandemic...

Junior Tyler Olson studies an ACT Prep Class textbook. Many students take time out of their classes to study for the ACT, which interferes with their focus and learning experience during class time.

ACT testing adds unneeded stress and provides an unfair advantage

Lucas Polucha, Video Editor February 18, 2020

For many college-bound students, the ACT or SAT tests present the largest hurdle in high school. What is intended to be a test of one's ability too often becomes a stressful, inaccurate and even unfair....

Anxiety builds as students line up to take the A.C.T. at Century College, a test that will likely deceive people.

While politicians insist that A.C.T. testing should be required, facts disagree

Adam Guinee, Podcast Reporter January 10, 2020

The A.C.T is supposed to be a test that measures a persons capacity as a student by evaluating them in the four subjects of english, math, reading, and science. ACT, inc. is the non-profit organization...

Junior Alli Kelm prepares for the ACT. There are multiple ways to prepare for the ACT. Kelm practices  her speed and knowledge of questions by doing practice worksheets.

ACT should be an embedded part of curriculum instruction

Hannah Genosky, Distribution Reporter December 20, 2018

Forty-nine percent of high school students say that they feel “a great deal of stress” on a daily basis. High school students worry about the ACT a lot because of how important it is. Starting in ninth...

Across the country, juniors and seniors prepare to take the ACT, such as junior Haakon Bjork. The competitive nature of the test has created many means of trying to get a better score: apps, books/booklets, and classes.

Students take ACTion, ACT prep course offerings

Elise Truman, Online editor November 17, 2018

  An all-out academic battle, where only the strongest survive, and even fewer thrive. The ACT is a standardized test that the majority of the midwestern and southern students take during their...

A list of Universities. The University of Chicago is the clear choice because that was the only college that offered test optional admission.

Universities switch to test-optional administration

AnnaMarie Born, Business Editor November 1, 2018

The University of Chicago and other top colleges are beginning to make the switch to test optional admission. On June 14, the University of Chicago announced that they were going to have a test optional...

Preparing for college admissions tests, resources easily available

Preparing for college admissions tests, resources easily available

Ashlyn Aarness, Photography Editor April 5, 2017

College prep tests are right around the corner and students are beginning to realize the pressure and time it takes to prepare for these tests.  Different strategies work for different people and knowing...

ACT prep classes beneficial

ACT prep classes beneficial

Cassie Hansen, Photographer November 18, 2015

Crucial to college acceptance is the score from a college entrance exam. The ACT or SAT are the two options for students, with the ACT having some 1.6 million students take it each year. Both tests...

Standardized testing helps for college but does not measure knowledge

Standardized testing helps for college but does not measure knowledge

Tiana Meador, Photographer October 21, 2015

Standardized tests are something considered unnecessary for proficiency and success among many high school students because of how they are found to cause minimal, but in most cases zero, impact on final...

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