JCHS, Helias, Blair Oaks top national ACT mark of 20.9

Jefferson City High School students haven't seen their composite ACT scores budge much over the last half-decade, according to data released Wednesday.

Students who took the test in 2013 earned a composite score of 21.6, exactly equivalent to the Missouri state average. That score is up slightly from 2011 when the school district's composite score was 21.3.

About 28 percent of the Jefferson City students who took the exam met all four of the benchmarks - in the areas of English composition, algebra, social science and biology - to be considered ready for college-level work.

At Blair Oaks the Class of 2013's composite score was 22.1, compared with 22.5 in 2012.

Almost 84 percent of the class - 92 of 110 students - took the exam and four students scored a 30 or higher on the four-part test. About 36 percent of those teens are considered "ready for college" by meeting all four benchmark scores.

At Helias Catholic High School, the composite ACT score was 23.9.

According to a press release from the parochial school, 96 percent of the Helias Class of 2013 took the exam and 31 of those students earned a 30 or higher.

According to the College Board ACT report, the percentage of Helias students designated as ready for college-level course work is 12 to 19 percent higher than the state percentages in all categories.

The average composite score on the test was 20.9.