When it comes to the U.S. Military, almost half of Wisconsin’s African American students aren’t even fit to serve.
That’s the story from the latest results of the United States Army’s Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) in Wisconsin. In 2009, 18.9 percent of all Wisconsin high school students failed to qualify for service. This included a 46.9 percent ineligibility rate amongst African American students and a 26.9 percent rate for Hispanic students. These figures come from a December study by The Education Trust in Washington, D.C.
The ASVAB is a multiple choice entrance exam that students usually take between 10th and 12th grade in order to qualify for enlisted service. It has nine sections and is based primarily on math, reading, and science. However, some sections of the exam delve into vocational skills in order to figure out a student’s areas of strength and better place them in the armed forces. These skills have traditionally included categories such as Automotive and Shop Information, Electronics Information, and Mechanical Comprehension.
Each branch of the U.S. Military has its own baseline qualifying score, ranging from the Air Force (a score of 55 or better) to the Army (a score of 31 or better). Scores are based on a student’s performance versus the national average. For example, a student scoring 75 on the ASVAB test would have outscored 74 percent of the other students taking the test across the country. Participation for the test is not mandatory, though nearly 350,000 scores make up The Education Trust’s sample data.
Overall, the Badger state ASVAB test takers graded as above average, but posted one of the worst rates for African American students. While Wisconsin’s near 19 percent failure rate was good for 17th nationally, the ineligibility rate for black students over the past five years was the fourth worst in the country. Amongst eligible states*, only Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas fared worse.
Regionally, Wisconsin ranked fourth out of six upper Midwestern states, including a last place finish for black students. Not surprisingly, the state led the nation in the achievement gap between African American and White students. On a more positive note, Wisconsin was only fourth in the region when it came to the gap between Hispanic and White students.
Almost one out of every five Wisconsinites who took the ASVAB in 2009 was unable to hit that baseline score of 31 or better. Nearly one of two black students could stake the same unsuccessful claim. Unfortunately, these scores reflect some of the trends that have become starkly apparent in the Badger State. The student achievement here is disparate, and the educational results are mediocre despite high graduation rates.
This digs at the larger overall problem – the state’s schools simply aren’t providing the education that they seem to be. This lapse affects students across all backgrounds, from the college-bound to those joining the workforce and to those joining the armed forces. In short, a high school education isn’t giving these kids the tools they need to thrive after graduation; no matter what field they choose.
*Nine states had fewer than 50 African American students take the test in 2009, not allowing for a large enough sample size to be representative.
By Christian D'Andrea
MacIver Institute Education Policy Analyst
