Scores on the American College Test released today show Vicksburg Warren School District students slightly improved over 2008, but down from two years ago, both in numbers of students taking the ACT and their composite scores.

The district scored 18.8 overall, up from 18.7 in 2008, while the state average was 18.9 and the national average was 21.1. The highest possible score is 36, achieved by less than one-tenth of 1 percent of all test-takers in 2009.

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The test, known as the ACT, is designed to predict ability to do college-level work and is created and offered by a private company based in Iowa. In Mississippi, students can choose whether to take it and how many times. It covers four subject areas: English, math, reading and science.

About 83 percent of Vicksburg students took the test this year, Superintendent Dr. James Price said, noting little variance year-to-year.

“We’re holding our own,” Price said. “We did a little better this year than last year; we’re down from two years ago but up from four years ago.”

Ten fewer students took the ACT test this year, 333, compared to 343 in 2008. In 2007, a five-year high of 348 VWSD students were tested, scoring a composite 19.3 on the test, also a five-year high.

Scores from Vicksburg Catholic School, where all eligible students took the test showed a composite 21.3. Scores from Porters Chapel Academy were not available.

The number is used as a factor in admissions to public and private schools. A good score can also lead to scholarships, especially at the community college level.

Mississippi scores have also held steady the past three years, up slightly from 18.8 in 2006 and 18.7 in 2005.

While fewer VWSD students have taken the test, regionally the numbers have increased in recent years. More than 90 percent of Mississippi seniors took the ACT this year, about 10 percent more than a decade ago, said Pete Smith, communications director for the state Department of Education.

A key figure in the testing is called the benchmark level. According to the test’s designers, students who hit or exceed a benchmark have the ability to make a C or better in freshmen classes.

Local performance in individual subject areas, compared with state and ACT benchmark indicators were:

• English — local, 19.1; state, 19.1; benchmark, 18.

• Math — local, 18.2; state, 18.3; benchmark, 22.

• Reading — local, 18.8; state, 19.0; benchmark, 21.

• Science — local, 18.7; state, 18.7; benchmark, 24.

Taking all four subjects together, 10 percent of Mississippi students reached benchmark scores on all four, with 25,976 graduates, 93 percent of the total, tested.

Nationally, 23 percent of students taking the test meet or exceed all four benchmarks, with 1,480,469 students tested. That score is up by 1 percent from 2008.

ACT was first administered in 1959, and is offered in all 50 states as an option in some and a requirement in others. Colleges in many states use a different test, the Scholastic Aptitude Test or SAT for college admissions purposes.

The ACT can be taken as many times as a student desires. The cost is $32; a writing option is $47.

Both Vicksburg and Warren Central high schools offer classes in preparing for the ACT, Price said. In addition, community workshops also give students a chance to get ready for the test.

The ACT is separate from state-required standardized testing administered from elementary through high school levels in Mississippi to determine student and school rankings under Mississippi’s approach to the federal No Child Left Behind legislation. Formerly, schools were ranked from Level 1 to Level 5 based on those scores. In the future, a different scale, from “failing” to “star school” will be used.

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Contact Pamela Hitchins at phitchins@vicksburgpost.com