Research Report 2024-12 Predicting Academic Success in College: The Comparative Strength of High School GPA, ACT® Score, and Demographic Factors EDGAR I. SANCHEZ, PHD © 2024 by ACT Education Corp. All rights reserved. | R2421 ACT Research | Research Report | December 2024 2 Conclusions This study offers a novel approach to evaluating the predictors of first-year grade point average (FYGPA) in college by using multiple imputation and dominance analysis to compare high school GPA (HSGPA), ACT® test score, and ...

Industry Overview - The Mosaic by ACT Social Emotional Learning Screener assesses social emotional skills in elementary, middle, and high school students, measuring skills such as Sustaining Effort, Getting Along with Others, and Maintaining Composure [9] - The screener also evaluates two dimensions of school climate: Relationships with School Personnel and School Safety [9] - The elementary school screener uses image-based Likert items, while middle and high school screeners use forced-choice items for social emotional skills and text-based Likert items for school climate perceptions [9] - The screener can be completed online in 5–7 minutes, with elementary school screener containing 23 items and middle/high school screeners containing 30 items each [9] Framework and Definitions - Social emotional skills are defined as interpersonal, self-regulatory, and task-related behaviors important for adaptation and success in educational and workplace settings [12] - These skills are linked to the Behavioral Skills portion of ACT's Holistic Framework, which is based on the Big Five personality factors [13] - The framework aligns with the five competencies outlined by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) [14] - School climate dimensions, such as Relationships with School Personnel and School Safety, are positively associated with student motivation, self-regulation, and social engagement [15] Assessment and Scoring - The elementary school assessment measures three social emotional skills and two school climate dimensions using Likert items, with 12 items for social emotional skills and 8 items for school climate [17][18] - Middle and high school assessments measure five social emotional skills and two school climate dimensions, with 30 items for social emotional skills and 15 items for school climate [20][22] - Scores are norm-based, with students receiving scores from 1 (Developing) to 4 (Mastering) for each skill and school climate area [24][25] - Reports flag students who score 1 in any category, indicating a need for further skill development [25] Reliability and Validity - Reliability estimates for elementary school screener scales range from α = .63 to α = .79, with similar reliability found in middle and high school screeners [35][64][88] - Convergent, discriminant, and criterion validity evidence supports the screener's effectiveness, with social emotional skills correlating most highly with their respective Big Five factors [38][66][92] - Students scoring at the Developing level for social emotional skills or school climate had significantly lower academic performance and less positive attitudes toward school [43][44][72][107] Subgroup Differences - Subgroup differences by grade, gender, and race/ethnicity were evaluated, with small but significant differences observed across various scales [48][52][55][74][77][109][112][114] - Females scored higher than males on Getting Along with Others and Relationships with School Personnel, while males scored higher on Maintaining Composure [52][112] - White students generally scored higher than other racial/ethnic groups on most scales, with Black students scoring lower on several measures [55][114]

Industry and Company Overview * **Industry**: IT Services * **Outlook**: Gradually improving cyclical outlook for 2025 * **Key Drivers**: * **Improving demand environment**: Industry headwinds in major verticals like Financials are abating, and discretionary demand is expected to pick up in 2025. * **AI adoption**: AI could become accretive to industry growth within 12-18 months as companies transition from proof-of-concept projects to larger projects. * **Shifting macro landscape**: Potential changes in H-1B visas, scrutiny on government spending, and a possible resolution in Ukraine could impact the industry. Key Company Analysis * **Accenture (ACN, Buy, $420 PT)**: * **Upgrade to Buy**: Believed to be well-positioned to capture a recovery in discretionary spending and has best-in-class AI capabilities. * **Cyclical headwinds moderating**: Financial Services and Consulting segments are seeing improving conditions. * **Outsourcing bookings translating to revenue**: Record-high outsourcing bookings are expected to drive revenue growth in 2025. * **AI potential**: Significant AI investments and partnerships position the company for potential revenue accretion by 2026. * **EPAM Systems (EPAM, Buy, $295 PT)**: * **Upgrade to Buy**: Expected to post improving growth in 2025 as discretionary demand for new technology builds. * **Differentiated provider of high-end engineering services**: Focus on applications and data integration, with a strong engineering edge. * **Ukraine resolution potential**: A potential resolution in Ukraine could improve growth trends and stabilize revenue per employee. * **Cost structure benefits**: Potential to rebuild delivery base in Ukraine and revitalize an attractive cost structure. Other Key Points * **Discretionary spending improving**: Discretionary spending is expected to improve over the course of 2025 as vertical-specific pressures abate. * **AI flywheel gaining momentum**: AI could become accretive to industry growth within 12-18 months as companies transition from proof-of-concept projects to larger projects. * **Shifting macro landscape**: Potential changes in H-1B visas, scrutiny on government spending, and a possible resolution in Ukraine could impact the industry. * **Top Buy-rated ideas**: IBM, Globant, and Accenture are highlighted as companies well-positioned to benefit from the improving IT Services sector. * **Top Sell-rated idea**: TaskUs is identified as facing headwinds in an increasingly challenged BPO market.

Company and Industry Overview * **Company**: MiTAC (3706.TW) * **Industry**: Server ODM (Original Design Manufacturer), AI servers, automotive electronics * **Management Visit**: Goldman Sachs visited MiTAC management in Taiwan on December 6, 2024. * **Industry Trend**: Continuous growth in Taiwan server ODMs, driven by the next generation full rack AI servers entering mass production. Key Takeaways * **AI Server Growth**: MiTAC's AI server business is growing with a diversified customer base, including public cloud, private cloud, edge computing, and enterprise clients. The company recently launched two new models to meet the needs of its diverse customer base. * **Server and Automotive Electronics**: Management remains positive on the server and automotive electronics business, driven by strong demand for AI servers from cloud service providers and increasing demand for automotive dash cameras and smart telematics solutions. * **Diversified Production Sites**: MiTAC's AI servers production sites are across Taiwan, Guangdong, Vietnam, and the US. The company is expanding capacity in Vietnam, Taiwan, and the US to better support clients' needs and mitigate the risks of geopolitical tensions. * **New Product Launches**: MiTAC recently announced new AI server products, including Nvidia MGX 4U servers and a new AI server model supporting the latest AMD MI325X GPUs. * **Positive Outlook for 2025**: Management expects both compute servers and AI servers to grow in the next year. Additional Information * **Company Profile**: MiTAC has 40+ years of experience in designing, manufacturing, and selling electronic products. It has three major subsidiaries: MiTAC computing, MiTAC digital, and MiTAC international. * **Analyst Ratings**: Goldman Sachs has a Buy rating on Hon Hai, FII, Quanta, Wistron, Wiwynn, and Gigabyte.

ACT Research | Issue Brief | November 2024 1 High School Students' Perspectives on Academic Preparedness for College Joyce Z. Schnieders, Becky L. Bobek, and Edgar I. Sanchez Introduction Academic preparedness is critical when it comes to student success in college. For some, academic preparedness includes only academic performance indicators that reflect mastery of academic knowledge and skills, such as test scores and high school grades. For example, some states point to academic knowledge and skills in c ...

Research Report 2024-11 Predictive Validity of High School GPA and ACT Composite Score on Graduating College GPA: Examining First-Year College GPA as a Mediator EDGAR I. SANCHEZ, PhD © 2024 by ACT Education Corp. All rights reserved. | R2417 ACT Research | Research Report | November 2024 2 Conclusions The study concludes that both high school GPA (HSGPA) and ACT scores are significant predictors of college success, particularly first-year college GPA (FYGPA). However, FYGPA mediates the relationship between ...