ACT results for all area schools and comparisons within their conferences are published in Saturday's Monroe Times newspaper edition.
MONROE - Most area school districts performed better on the American College Test (ACT) last year than the state and national average, but some still have room have for improvement.
Wisconsin students averaged a 22.3 score on the ACT, more than a point above the national average of 21.1.
"Overall, Wisconsin students did well on this national test," Wisconsin Superintendent of Schools Tony Evers said.
Monroe Superintendent Larry Brown said he was pleased to see the school district exceed the state and national average. Monroe's average score of 22.6 in 2008-09 was a full-point increase from the previous year.
"We're feeling good about the rise in our overall scores," Brown said.
Monroe also saw higher scores in English, math, reading and science.
"More Monroe students are taking the ACT test and more of our students are meeting college readiness benchmarks, which consequently will lead to more productive students," Brown said.
However, Monroe still finished below all but two districts, Monona Grove (21.8) and Baraboo (22.6) among the Badger Conference schools.
Brown said the school district doesn't compare itself to other districts in the conference. Instead, it focuses on how well its students are doing and looks at improvements made from the previous year.
He said the school district will continue to focus on high expectations and individualized attention to prepare each student to be successful after high school.
"We must remain focused and work to improve the quality of instruction on a daily basis," Brown said.
Monticello had the highest average score (24.5) in the Six Rivers Conference. Superintendent Karen Ballin said the success was due to the teachers.
"We have an accomplished staff who try to give the kids as much help as they can," she said.
Monticello teachers and students seek extra help to give the students a better chance at doing well on the test, she added.
"We try to encourage the kids as much as we can and try to give them as much help as we can," she said. "If it wasn't for the teachers we wouldn't see this much success."
Brodhead High School Principal Lenny Lueck said his school's scores - a 23 average - are a result of efforts to look at where students are strong academically and to find ways to help them where they are weaker.
"We try to look at areas we need to improve on and the teachers do a good job of helping students make improvements," he said.
Lueck said he compares his school's results with other districts.
"I point that out to our staff," he said, "it gives them an idea of how well our students are doing."
Brodhead had an average score of 23. Only Palmyra-Eagle, with a score of 23.6, had a higher score in the Rock Valley Conference.
Some schools in the area finished below the state average and one finished below the national average.
Juda had an average score of 19 and Pecatonica had an average score of 21.1.
The Darlington school district's score of 21.7 concerns Superintendent Denise Wellnitz.
"We will continue to look at the test results," she said. "We will use the data to try to make improvements."
Wellnitz said the district made some changes this year to its math program, and said she thinks the changes will help students improve their ACT test scores.
She said people should be careful not to put too much of an emphasis on the test results. Some students don't do as well on standardized tests. How a student performs in school should be measured over a three-year span rather than one test, Wellnitz said.
Wisconsin students averaged a 22.3 score on the ACT, more than a point above the national average of 21.1.
"Overall, Wisconsin students did well on this national test," Wisconsin Superintendent of Schools Tony Evers said.
Monroe Superintendent Larry Brown said he was pleased to see the school district exceed the state and national average. Monroe's average score of 22.6 in 2008-09 was a full-point increase from the previous year.
"We're feeling good about the rise in our overall scores," Brown said.
Monroe also saw higher scores in English, math, reading and science.
"More Monroe students are taking the ACT test and more of our students are meeting college readiness benchmarks, which consequently will lead to more productive students," Brown said.
However, Monroe still finished below all but two districts, Monona Grove (21.8) and Baraboo (22.6) among the Badger Conference schools.
Brown said the school district doesn't compare itself to other districts in the conference. Instead, it focuses on how well its students are doing and looks at improvements made from the previous year.
He said the school district will continue to focus on high expectations and individualized attention to prepare each student to be successful after high school.
"We must remain focused and work to improve the quality of instruction on a daily basis," Brown said.
Monticello had the highest average score (24.5) in the Six Rivers Conference. Superintendent Karen Ballin said the success was due to the teachers.
"We have an accomplished staff who try to give the kids as much help as they can," she said.
Monticello teachers and students seek extra help to give the students a better chance at doing well on the test, she added.
"We try to encourage the kids as much as we can and try to give them as much help as we can," she said. "If it wasn't for the teachers we wouldn't see this much success."
Brodhead High School Principal Lenny Lueck said his school's scores - a 23 average - are a result of efforts to look at where students are strong academically and to find ways to help them where they are weaker.
"We try to look at areas we need to improve on and the teachers do a good job of helping students make improvements," he said.
Lueck said he compares his school's results with other districts.
"I point that out to our staff," he said, "it gives them an idea of how well our students are doing."
Brodhead had an average score of 23. Only Palmyra-Eagle, with a score of 23.6, had a higher score in the Rock Valley Conference.
Some schools in the area finished below the state average and one finished below the national average.
Juda had an average score of 19 and Pecatonica had an average score of 21.1.
The Darlington school district's score of 21.7 concerns Superintendent Denise Wellnitz.
"We will continue to look at the test results," she said. "We will use the data to try to make improvements."
Wellnitz said the district made some changes this year to its math program, and said she thinks the changes will help students improve their ACT test scores.
She said people should be careful not to put too much of an emphasis on the test results. Some students don't do as well on standardized tests. How a student performs in school should be measured over a three-year span rather than one test, Wellnitz said.