2011 ACT test scores show that Fayette County’s high school seniors are among the most prepared for college-level coursework in the state and nation.

Fayette posted a composite score of 23.0, up from 22.6 last year. In comparison to state and national composite scores, state schools scored 20.6 and schools nationwide scored 21.1. That puts Fayette 2.4 points ahead of the state composite and 1.9 points ahead of the nation.

The ACT consists of curriculum-based tests of educational development in English, mathematics, reading and science designed to measure the skills needed for success in the first year of college coursework.

Most students in Fayette take the SAT, the other college entrance exam. The ACT is the primary college admissions test for schools in some other parts of the country.