Only about 25% of the 2009 high school graduates taking the ACT (American College Test) admissions test have the appropriate skills needed to succeed in college, according to a study released by ACT. The study shows very little improvement compared to the 2008 graduating class.

The ACT study reported that of the 2009 graduating class, only 23% of high school graduates were prepared in all four areas of testing (English, Reading, Math and Science) or had a 75% chance of obtaining a grade of C or higher in freshman courses. The ACT study also reported that 40% of high school students are unable to use the correct adverb or adjective to form a sentence or couldn’t use a preposition in a phrase. In addition, the same 40% couldn’t solve multi-step math problems involving percentages and fractions.

Bob White, president of the Alliance of Excellent Education, an advocacy group focused on boosting high school graduation rates, said, “We’re not making the progress we need to be making. The only way to improve these numbers and get them higher is by improving your secondary schools.”

Unfortunately the current state of the economy isn’t helping as the reports were issued at a time when many universities are making major cut backs. Many universities have cut back on the number of incoming freshman and have raised admission standards. In addition, many universities have cut remedial courses which will make it tougher for unprepared students.

The reports issued by ACT will likely have a great impact on the upcoming debates in Congress on the No Child Left Behind Law. The law, passed in 2001, has emphasized improving achievement gaps in the lower grades. Bob Schaeffer, member of FairTest, an anti-testing advocacy group, had this to say about the law, “No Child promised to improve college readiness. The data shows, in fact, that scores have been stagnant that achievement gaps are essentially unchanged.”

The ACT study isn’t alone in reporting the stalled achievement. The National Assessment of Education Progress, a key federal test administered by the Department of Education, found that high school students haven’t made any significant progress in reading or math for nearly four decades.

President Barack Obama is currently offering states, public schools and colleges additional federal funding to launch new initiatives with the hopes of improving high school and college graduation rates.