Contact: Lisa Deffendall • First Posted: Wednesday, August 13, 2008

High school juniors and seniors in Fayette County continued the tradition of besting state and national averages on the ACT – the well-known college entrance exam often used as a barometer of rigor and achievement in high schools. 

The district’s overall scores are now at an eight-year high. On average across the schools, students posted gains in all subject areas – English, mathematics, reading and science.

“It’s very exciting for us to have the highest ACT scores that we’ve ever had. It is showing that our high schools are providing the opportunities for our kids to be able to achieve at very high levels,” said Fayette Schools Superintendent Stu Silberman. “One of our challenges is to make sure that all kids have the benefit of these opportunities.”

All but one of the district’s high schools posted composite scores well above the state and national average. Two high schools had sizable gains; notably, Tates Creek High School had an increase of .9 points overall, and Paul Laurence Dunbar’s overall score rose .5 points.

How students at each school in Fayette County fared, in comparison with the state and nation: