Calhoun High School students who took the ACT college entrance exam this year performed slightly better than their peers did nationwide.

ACT released composite scores for the class of 2010 Aug. 18.

Calhoun students netted an average score of 21.2 — compared to the national average of 21 and the state average of 20.7. The exam is measured on a scale of 0 to 36.

Fifty-two CHS students took the ACT exam this year, while 78 students were tested last year.

“We are proud of the accomplishments of these 52 students,” said CHS principal Kelly Bumgardner. “All the categories were at or above the state average.”

According to the ACT website, the test includes four separate exams in English, reading, mathematics and sci-ence. There is also an optional writing portion. The ACT is a curriculum-based achievement test designed to meas-ure college readiness and preparation.

More than 90 local students took the ACT exam this year, while 15.7 million were tested nationwide, according to ACT officials.

Some colleges use the ACT scores as part of an admission formula. Other schools base scholarship awards on it.

The Georgia Department of Education reported that Georgia’s ACT scores saw a slight increase in 2010 and a higher percentage of students demonstrated college and career readiness.

Gordon County Schools have seen a steady rise in student scores on the ACT during the past few years.

Students in Gordon County Schools have an average composite score of 18.5 on the test this year. That is an in-crease of 0.4 from two years ago and is just below the state average of 20.7 and the national average of 21.

“The number of students taking the ACT system wide has doubled since 2006, increasing at both high schools as well,” said Bill McCown, superintendent of Gordon County Schools.

“Each year our students are more college and career ready than the year before. In addition to meeting the state requirements for graduation, our current ninth, tenth and eleventh grade students must also complete a career pathway.”

However, overall composite scores at each of the two county high schools — Gordon Central and Sonoraville— each took a slight dip from 2009 to 2010.

Gordon Central’s 2010 ACT composite score was 17.9, compared to 19 in 2009. Twenty-one Gordon Central stu-dents took the ACT exam this year, while 29 students were tested last year.

Sonoraville’s 2010 ACT composite score was 19.2, compared to 20.9 in 2009. Eighteen Sonoraville High students took the ACT exam this year, while 16 were tested last year.