North Platte High School officials continue to work to improve the academic performance of students.

Consider the ACT (American College Testing), which are given to high school juniors each year. At an academic pep rally on May 2, NPHS students were recognized for outstanding ACT performance and academic achievement.

The ACT measures knowledge of English, mathematics, reading, and optionally, science and writing. It is a standardized test used for college admissions.

North Platte High School Principal Corey Spotanski said the pep rally, as well as sustained measures to boost ACT scores, are supported through partnerships with the school foundation as well as North Platte donors.

Spotanski said 196 students, nearly 67% of the class, completed all the ACT preparation programs, from start to finish. Those students received rewards, including release from Bulldog Time – a structured morning period designed to help students prepare for the school day.  

Ten students scored above 30 on the ACT, an increase from six students last year. The top 10 students received free MacBook computers.

A perfect ACT score is 36. The most elite colleges and universities in the country require a score of 30 or more, according to www.act.org.

Nationally, the average ACT score was 19.4 in 2024.

Spotanski said another 13 students scored between 25-29, earning free iPads, while 59 students scored between 20-24 and were recognized with certificates. Another 38 students scored either an 18 or a 19.

Spotanski noted that 41 students were just one or two correct answers from reaching the next recognition tier.

He said, “The connection and support from our community is what makes this possible.”

He thanked community donors and sponsors who contributed to the student incentives, including the Baumann family, Kwik Stop, the Kashke family, the Poppe family, Mayor Brandon Kelliher, and the North Platte Public Schools Foundation.

“It was awesome to see the excitement of the students when their peers were recognized,” Spotanski said.

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