The ACT Corporation recently released the average composite ACT scores for high schools across the country, and for the second straight year, Lemont High School has the opportunity to celebrate a record-setting performance by its students. The Class of 2010 posted an average composite ACT score of 22.7, the best in school history.

For the fourth time in the last five years, Lemont High School’s average ACT scores have improved from the previous year. The Class of 2007 posted an average composite score of 22.1, which was an improvement over the Class of 2006 (21.4). The Class of 2008’s average score slipped to 21.5, but the Class of 2009 helped the school rebound in a big way, posting a 0.9-point improvement and posting an average composite score of 22.4. The Class of 2009’s score was a school record until the results from the Class of 2010 were released.

Lemont High School has consistently scored above the state average, but the difference in performance between Lemont students and the state average is larger than it has ever been. In 2006, Lemont’s average composite ACT score was 21.4, which was less than a point better than the state average of 20.5. Since that year, Lemont’s scores have improved by six percent to the current average of 22.7; the state average, meanwhile, has improved by less than one percent to 20.7. Lemont’s average ACT score is 2.0 points better than the state average, the widest margin ever.

The ACT includes four subsets – Mathematics, Reading, English and Science. The Class of 2009 had established new benchmarks in each subset, but the Class of 2010 matched or improved upon each of those scores. The Class of 2010’s average scores by subset include 22.5 for English, 22.6 for Mathematics, 22.9 for Reading, and 22.1 for Science.

All of these improvements have come during a time of rapid growth in Lemont High School’s student population. The school’s enrollment has increased by more than 40 percent since 2002.

The performance by the Class of 2010 is the school’s best since mandatory administration of the ACT began with the Class of 2002. Beginning with that class, all State of Illinois students who were classified as juniors were required to take the ACT as part of the Prairie State Achievement Exam (PSAE). Prior to that year, students who took the ACT generally were limited to those who were college-bound.

The average composite ACT score reflects graduating students’ most recent scores from an ACT national testing date or PSAE testing. While all students are required to take the ACT as part of the PSAE, most students take the ACT again in order to improve their scores.

For more information, contact Director of School and Community Relations Tony Hamilton at (630) 243-3280.