NKY teen's character called into question after receiving high ACT score

Student at risk of losing scholarship after being flagged by ACT

WALTON, Ky. —

When it comes to achieving the college dream, so much of it comes down to just a few days of a student's high school career.

The handful of days one takes the ACT or SAT standardized tests determines whether a person makes it into college, where they can go and how much scholarship money if any, they are awarded.

For one Northern Kentucky high school senior, this numbers game has called her character into question and has her mother steaming mad.

It's supposed to be the most exciting time of this high school senior's life, but instead Abby Kuhnell, of Walton, spends every day stressed and praying her dream of someday becoming a teacher isn't about to be crushed.

"I just kind of stopped and then my heart dropped," Abby said. "I went in to my mom and she read it and I just started crying and breaking down because my score was gone."

She's talking about her ACT score. As a junior at Walton Verona, Abby posted a 26 and then scored a 28 the next time.

Combine that with her 3.76 GPA and her top college choice, Morehead State rewarded her with a nice financial four-year package of $32,000, almost a full ride.

Then came the infamous letter that arrived at the Kuhnell family home: ACT Security saying Abby's improvement from a 16 and 17 on the ACT as a sophomore to the 26 and 28 the next year was suspicious.

The decision to red flag her was made after looking at not only the better numbers, but their data showing she had a lot of the same wrong answers as test takers around her.

It was crushing news for her mother.

"It was devastating. As hard as she worked, as much as she was a good student, to get something like this blew us both out of the water," Kelly said.

The principal at Abby's school, Joanne Nesmith, is taking this personally. She says Abby's big jump is easy to understand.

First semester of junior year, students at Walton-Verona basically go through ACT boot camp. Paired up with teachers in math, science, English and reading, specifically working on ACT weaknesses, the kids have shown big improvements on their practice and real ACT exams.

"I feel heartbroken for her. It's almost as if she's guilty. Not innocent until found guilty. She is guilty before proven innocent," Nesmith said. She also points out that by junior year, kids have been exposed to different classes featured on the ACT they hadn't taken the year before.

"I didn't know a bunch of the math that was on there. When I first took it, I was sick. I didn't have my calculator with me. I did the whole math without a calculator. I wasn't prepared," Abby said.

So now what? Three choices were offered by the people behind the ACT:

1. Drop the top two scores, meaning Abby's 26 and 28 are gone.
2. Arbitration. Fight it and prove her case. But the family claims research shows it's a long shot to beat the ACT.
3. Take the test again, this time in isolation. If you score within three points of either flagged score, you get to keep it.

If she took option no. 3, if she scored a 25, she could keep the 28. If she scored a 23, she could keep the 26. If the new test is the best, that'll be the new standard.

Abby decided on option 3. She'll take it again.

"It's a lot of pressure, a lot more pressure. Knowing if I don't get within those three points, my scores are gone, my scholarships are gone, my likelihood of getting into a good college is gone," she said.

Nesmith feels it's a tough spot to put anybody in, especially at Abby's age.

"It's not the same testing environment she's used to and that would rattle any kid, any adult to be in that isolated testing. I hope she does it and I think she will," Nesmith said.

"I've told her, 'Cry, punch a wall, do whatever, get upset and then move past it and let's get this thing done,'" Kelly said.

So that's plan - to get it done. But this ACT drama is something that Abby won't soon forget. "It's not fair to kids, it's not fair to families, it's not fair to anybody that they're doing this to people. It's not right."

Abby is not alone.

According to a researcher for Prep Scholar, nearly 2,500 students a year in the United States are informed about suspicious scores. I chatted with a spokesperson for the ACT. He couldn't comment on Abby's case, but he says the decision to flag a score is never based on just one thing like a big jump.

He says there are always other factors.