Virginia students' ACT scores top national average

Virginia high school students increased their performance across the board on the ACT college admissions exam in 2008.

The gains in the math, English, reading and science sections came as the number of Virginia seniors taking the test increased by 15 percent to about 17,000. By comparison, more than 50,000 of the state's students take the SAT test.

Virginia students made at least half-point gains on all but the science portion of the test and had an average composite score of 21.8 out of 36, a 0.4-point increase over 2007. In North Carolina, the composite score rose from 21.0 to 21.3.

The national composite score dropped slightly to 21.1.

"Virginia students have established a clear trend of increasing achievement on the ACT," said Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction Billy Cannaday Jr. on Wednesday. "Their performance and the growing number of Virginia students taking the test illustrate the link between rigorous standards and higher achievement."

But the results also show that students in Virginia and nationwide still have a ways to go. The ACT also identifies college-readiness benchmarks. In Virginia, 26 percent of tested students met that target in all four areas, compared with 24 percent in North Carolina and 22 percent nationwide in 2008.

Lauren Roth, (757) 222-5133, lauren.roth@pilotonline.com.