While average scores on the ACT college entrance exam dipped slightly for the high school class of 2008 as the number of students taking the exam on the national scene jumped by 9 percent compared to last year, students' composite scores increased slightly in Iowa.

Iowa students earned the second highest average ACT score in the nation in 2008.

The average ACT score for Iowa students rose slightly by a 0.1 percentage point this year, for an average composite score of 22.4.

Both Iowa and Wisconsin were second in the nation last year. Iowa, which edged out Wisconsin by a 0.1 percentage point this year, claimed the second highest average composite score for states testing the majority of their graduating seniors. For the fourth year, Minnesota is again first, with a score of 22.6 this year.

The national average score for the college admission and placement exam is 21.1 out of a possible 36. The 2008 graduating seniors at Clay Central/Everly and Spencer who took the exam, 64 percent and 111 respectively, tallied better composite scores than the national average.

"These results clearly show one thing: Iowa students are among the best in the nation. Iowa graduates are even more ready and well-prepared for higher education," Gov. Chet Culver said.

CC/E Guidance Counselor Denny Harmon noted how ACT scores vary from class to class.

"Generally speaking, we're right at the state average," he said. "In some cases we're a little bit below, and in some cases we're a little bit higher. It just kind of depends. Some years, like this past year, I encouraged kids to take them, even if they weren't quite sure whether or not they were going to a four-year college."

The ACT exam is made up of four separate exams in English, reading, math and science. It also has an optional writing test.

The ACT, an Iowa City-based nonprofit, says a major part of the shortfall in college readiness is that students are failing to complete a core curriculum of college-prep courses. This year's results reveal that more than three in four test-takers will likely need remedial help in at least one subject to succeed in college. But the ACT's creators said it was good news that average scores held nearly steady, even as more students took the exam. That means the total number who've earned benchmark scores showing they're ready for college-level work is rising.

2008 results indicate that students who report taking at least three years each of math, science and social studies and four years of English in high school perform better on the test. Judy Jeffrey, the director of Iowa education department, reports students who took this basic core curriculum scored an average composite score of 23.1, while those who didn't averaged 20.6.

"I'm proud of Iowa's standing in ACT, but believe the full implementation of the core curriculum will give our students the skills to achieve at even higher rates," Jeffrey said.

But ACT officials maintain the core courses need more rigor. Among 2008 high school graduates who took the minimum core curriculum in math -- algebra I and II plus geometry -- just 14 percent met the math benchmark.

While ACT reports 69 percent of the graduating class took core courses, more Iowa students are doing so. This past school year, ninth graders across Iowa began meeting the statewide graduation requirement for all students to take at least four years of English and three years each of math, science and social science. In addition, Iowa school districts will soon be implementing the Iowa Core Curriculum, which requires students to learn identified essential concepts and skill sets for literacy, mathematics, science and social studies, as well as 21st century learning skills (civic, financial, technology and health literacy, and employability skills).

"The ACT is a valuable tool for us, especially in giving an indication of how well our students (are doing) in the core curriculum vs. the non-core curriculum," Spencer High School Principal Joe Mueting said. "It also gives us good indication as to how well our students will do as to their preparedness for college."

In regard to the 2008 SHS seniors who took the ACT and scored above the national and state composite averages, Mueting said, "If we start dropping quite a bit from that average where we've been, then certainly it is a cause for alarm; but I think we also need to celebrate when things are moving in the right direction. And a 1-point increase over last year is a huge increase. You normally don't see that much of an increase, typically, in a given year."

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