Issaquah students really have their ACT together! Our seniors in the graduating class of 2007 who took this national college-entrance exam had a composite score that is well above the state's—and the state's composite score is among the top in the nation.

"The ACT is an indicator of college readiness, so these scores show our students are ready to thrive in the next step in their education at the national level," said Sharon Manion, the District's director of assessment.

The results, which were released on Aug. 15, show that Washington students ranked third in composite scoring, behind Massachusetts and Connecticut.

The exam consists of four content areas: English, reading, mathematics and science. Scores are scaled from one (lowest) to 36 (highest). Results are used for admission into postsecondary institutions, academic advising, and scholarship decisions.

About 16 percent of the state's seniors in the class of 2007 took the exam. Those students averaged a composite score of 23.1, compared to the national average of 21.2.

In Issaquah, composite scores increased for the fifth straight year even as the largest number of seniors ever (25.2 percent [273 students]) took the exam. They earned a composite score of 25.

"What that means is more of our kids are college-ready than ever before," Manion said.

Issaquah High's Kyle Corbitt led the pack of high-scorers on the exam last year school year. He was one of only 26 students in the nation to score a perfect 36 on the ACT administered in December. Because Corbitt was a sophomore, his perfect score was not included in the District, state, or national composite score for the class of 2007.

At a glance: Composite scores for the class of 2007

For a more detailed picture of national scores go to http://www.act.org/news/data.html.