Michigan average ACT score rises by .2

LANSING, Mich. (AP) - The overall composite score for Michigan high school juniors on the ACT college-entrance exam increased this year as did the percentage of Michigan students who are considered college-ready.

That's according to figures released Thursday by the state Department of Education.

The average ACT score rose from 19.4 last year to 19.6 this year. The top score on the test is 36.

Also, the education department says the percentage of students who are college-ready rose from 17.4 percent to 17.7 percent.

Gov. Rick Snyder has said he wants to use college-readiness data to gauge improvement in student achievement.

He says: "While we have more work to do, our state is moving in the right direction."

However, the Detroit Free Press reports that at nearly 80 schools, no students were considered college-ready.

Three Grand Rapids Public Schools posted gains of .5 or .6, according to GRPS.

City High School showed a .5 increase, Creston High School a .6, and Union High School posted a .5 gain, which aided in its efforts to get off the state's '5% list.'

Overall, according to GRPS spokesman John Helmholdt, the district's composite score remained steady. The average score in 2007 was 15.6 and the 2012 average was 16.9.