Illinois graduating seniors have slight ACT score increase

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - New statistics show the Illinois' graduating seniors this year had a slight increase in their ACT scores.

The Illinois State Board of Education said Wednesday that Illinois high school seniors earned a score of 20.8 out of 36. That's one-tenth of a point higher than last year and even with the national average. Illinois seniors also were even with or higher than national scores in English, math and science. They were slightly behind in reading.

Illinois State Superintendent of Education Tony Smith says Illinois is showing progress. He says the department approaches "the work of improving opportunities for all students and increasing the pace of progress" with urgency.

The ACT was optional for public school students in 2015 and provided by the state education board. Most 2016 graduating seniors took the test as juniors.