Student ACT scores down 40-percent from last year

Recent ACT scores reflect that nearly two-thirds of this year's high school graduates are not ready for college.

The testing company says only 38 percent of graduating seniors who took the exam hit the college-prepared benchmark in at least three of the four core subjects tested - reading, English, math and science.

That's down from 40 percent last year.

Reaching three or more benchmarks indicates a strong readiness for college course work.

ACT's Paul Weeks says a decline in scores was expected because the pool of test-takers has increased sharply.

More states are paying for ACT testing of public school students.

Nearly 2.1 million graduating seniors took the ACT, up from 1.9 million in the last school year.