The Condition of STEM 2014 Nevada - STEM 2014 report overview

Oct 9, 2026

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Annual ACT report examining the ACT-tested 2014 graduating class through the lens of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) readiness and interest. Uses subject-level science tests and the ACT Interest Inventory to identify student interest cohorts and evaluate achievement across four STEM areas: science and computer science/mathematics, medical and health, and engineering and technology. Describes ACT’s commitment to STEM via ACT Aspire for grades 3–10, planned benchmarks, and cautions about small sample counts in subgroup achievement reporting.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages32

Reading Time1 h 21 min

AccessFree to download

Refining the Definition of STEM

ACT’s Commitment to STEM

Key Findings

Interest in STEM remains high

The Condition of STEM 2014 Nevada The Condition of STEM 2014 Nevada ACT has been a leader in measuring college and career readiness trends since 1959. Each August, we release The Condition of College & Career Readiness ([www.act.org/](www.act.org/)[ ](www.act.org/)[newsroom/data/2014](newsroom/data/2014)), our annual report on the progress of the ACT-tested graduating class relative to college readiness. Nationally, 57% of the 2014 graduating class took the ACT® college readiness assessment. The continued increase of test takers enhances the breadth and depth of our data pool, providing a comprehensive picture of the current college readiness levels of the graduating class as well as offering a glimpse of the emerging national educational and STEM pipeline. It also allows us to review various aspects of the ACT-tested 2014 graduating class. This report reviews the graduating class in the context of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) -related fields. ACT is uniquely positioned to deliver this report for two key reasons. First is our commitment to science by the inclusion of subject-level science tests in our assessments. Second is our research-based measure of interests, the ACT Interest Inventory, which is delivered with the ACT and determines inherent interest in occupations and majors. With the inventory, we can determine student interest levels in specific STEM fields and, more importantly, readiness in math and science among students interested in STEM careers. The report breaks the graduating class into three STEM-related cohorts: 1 1. Students who have an expressed and measured interest in STEM. 2. Students who have an expressed interest only—those who chose a major or occupation (out of the 294 listed in the Standard Profile Section of the ACT) that corresponds with STEM fields. 3. Students who have a measured interest only—those who indicated STEM interest on the ACT Interest Inventory. Refining the Definition of STEM2 As we’ve continued our STEM research, we’ve renewed our focus on the inconsistency of STEM definitions across the country. In order to maintain consistency and offer states the opportunity to use this report as a baseline for statelevel STEM initiatives, we created areas within our STEM fields in 2013. The table on page 28 describes how ACT chose to categorize them, based on the occupations and majors listed on the ACT. We determined four key areas: Science, Computer Science and Mathematics, Medical and Health, and Engineering and Technology. This report will show achievement levels in each of these areas on a national level. In addition, the actual number and percentage of students interested in specific majors and occupations are provided. We include this so that STEM councils and other state officials can more accurately assess the numbers of students in specific major/ occupational pipelines. The report will assist officials in documenting success of STEM initiatives that focus on generating interest in specific STEM fields. ACT’s Commitment to STEM ACT recently launched ACT Aspire™, an assessment system focused on grades 3–10. ACT Aspire covers the same subjects as the ACT: English, reading, math, science, and writing. Based on the ACT College and Career Readiness Standards and aligned to the Common Core State Standards, ACT Aspire will provide an early indicator as well as a longitudinal overview of statewide and national college and career readiness. To complement the information in this report, ACT created a STEM score within the ACT Aspire reporting format and will make STEM scoresan integral part of the ACT college readiness assessment reporting format in 2015. These steps will give educatorsand STEM leaders an early and ongoing view of the STEM pipeline within their states. Upcoming projects at ACT include the development of ACT College and Career Readiness Benchmarks focused on the skills and knowledge students will need to be successful in STEM

FAQs

What data sources does ACT use to assess STEM interest and readiness?

ACT uses subject-level science tests and the ACT Interest Inventory. The inventory helps determine inherent interest in occupations and majors, including STEM-focused readiness in math and science.

How does the report define and categorize STEM-related student cohorts?

The report divides the graduating class into three STEM-related cohorts: students with expressed and measured STEM interest, students with expressed interest only, and students with measured interest only.

What four STEM areas does ACT use to organize achievement levels?

The report highlights achievement in four areas: Science, Computer Science and Mathematics, Medical and Health, and Engineering and Technology.

Oct 9, 2026

Upload by Aldword