By Alabama Public Radio
Montgomery, AL – Alabama high school students showed some improvement on the ACT college admission and placement exam this year, but the state still lags behind the national average. The average composite score in the state increased to 20-point-two. That's up from 20-point-one last year. The average national score increased to 20-point-nine from 20-point-eight. Alabama students logged higher composite scores than students in Washington, D.C. and in five states -- Louisiana, Georgia, Mississippi, New Mexico and South Carolina. State students tied with those in Texas. The A-C-T is the predominant college entrance exam in about half the states, including Alabama. The multiple-choice tests cover four skill areas: English, math, reading and science. The average math score in Alabama showed the most disparity between the national average...the state's average was 19-point-five, compared nationally with 20-point-seven.