The number of Ohio students taking the ACT college entrance and placement exam increased to a record 88,754, representing 64 percent of Ohio’s 2009 high school graduates.

The ACT is composed of tests of academic achievement in English, mathematics, reading and science. Ohio students continue to outperform the national average on the ACT with an average composite score of 21.7 compared to the national average of 21.1.

“Ohio students have outpaced the nation on the ACT for the last 15 years,” said Deborah S. Delisle, superintendent of public instruction. “Our students and teachers should be very proud, as should all Ohioans. We must continue our commitment to excellence and our efforts to ensure students have rigorous coursework that will help them excel academically and compete globally.”

This year’s average composite score was unchanged from 2008. Scores on the English and science portions of the test also were unchanged from last year. The reading score increased 0.1 points and the mathematics score fell 0.1 points. Ohio continues to rank ninth in the nation of the 27 states where more than 50 percent of the graduating class participates in the ACT. Ohio’s class of 2009 exceeded the national average on all four tests.