Mass. High School Students Score Top Marks In ACT Exam

Massachusetts high school students are at the top of the nation for their performance on the annual ACT college readiness exam.

State education officials say 44 percent of students who took the test this year met all four readiness benchmarks.

Their performance was also three points higher than the national average.

But the state's overall test score was down slightly from last year, by about one-tenth of a percentage point.

"We are proud of these results and will continue working to ensure all of our students are prepared for success in college and career," Gov. Deval Patrick said in a statement.

The ACT is taken by at least 60 percent of students in half the states.