The ACT test aims to measure how well students are prepared for college. Wisconsin students overall had a composite ACT score of 22.1, exactly matching last year’s performance. The state tied with Iowa for the No. 2 spot among states with 50 percent or more of their students taking the exams. Minnesota students posted the top score, with 23.0. The national average was 20.9, according to results released Wednesday by ACT, an independent nonprofit agency. The highest possible ACT score is 36.

Mineral Point student’s average composite score of 23.1 exceeded the State and National averages and ranked 80th overall across all districts in the state. Platteville led area schools with an average composite of 23.7. Mineral Point posted the sixth best average composite score for CESA 3 area schools and followed Dodgeville (23.6), Fennimore (23.4), and Belmont and Benton (23.3).

For the first time in Mineral Point’s recent five-year history the district exceeded the State and National averages in all four subject areas: Reading, Mathematics, English, and Science. Mineral Point excelled in average reading and science scores by posting the third highest scores in the CESA 3 area with an average composite of 23.7 and 23.4 respectively.

Superintendent Luke Francois was pleased with the results and stated, “ACT scores are a reflection of teachers at all levels coupled with efforts by students and parents that are joined together by a common goal of high expectations for students at Mineral Point. Our community should celebrate our recent ACT scores yet also aspire to continue to raise the scores amongst comparable districts in our area and across the state.”

Beginning in the 2014-15 school year, all public high school juniors will be taking the ACT test as a way to gauge all students’ abilities. The proposal is part of sweeping educational reforms proposed by State Superintendent Tony Evers and the state Department of Public Instruction.

“Changes to our statewide assessments are just one of the educational reforms Wisconsin is pursuing to improve student’s achievement,” Evers said in a DPI news release.

The state’s students did well on the exam, Evers said, but “we have work to do to get students to take the rigorous coursework that will help prepare them for college and careers and help bridge achievement gaps.”