ACT scores for Georgia's college-bound seniors continued to rise in 2008, inching the state's national ranking to the 41st position as the national average dipped.

State gains on the college entrance exam came even as more Georgia high school seniors —- 33,238 students accounting for nearly 40 percent of all seniors —- took the ACT.

The ACT, a curriculum-based achievement test, gauges a student's mastery of English, reading, math and science. The exam is scored on a scale from 0 to 36.

Georgia's composite ACT score rose to 20.6 in 2008, up from 20.3 in 2007. It has risen steadily in recent years; in 2003 the Georgia score was 19.8.

The national average declined this year, however, dropping to 21.1, down .1 from 2007.

"This is yet another example of the positive momentum in Georgia's schools as teachers, students and parents are working hard to improve student achievement and performance," Gov. Sonny Perdue said.

Officials with the state Department of Education were pleased with the scores, noting that Georgia's students improved in every ACT subject area. They attribute the improvements to state curriculum changes that expose more students to rigorous courses.

"We are preparing our students for the 21st century by requiring them to learn the skills and ideas that colleges and businesses expect," state Superintendent Kathy Cox said in a statement.

Cox, however, acknowledged that work remains. Georgia is still in the bottom of the heap among national scores. In 2007, the state ranked 44th in ACT scores and 46th in SAT scores.

George Walton High School, a conversion charter school in Marietta, ranked as Georgia's top performer on the ACT with an average score of 25. George Walton offers its students a selection of 33 Advanced Placement courses and academic support for those who need it.

"This is a new mark for us," said George Walton principal Judy McNeill. "I don't think we have ever been No. 1 on the ACT. We have been No. 1 on the SAT ... more than three times."

McNeill credits the work of students and faculty. The school follows a special schedule 23 times a year that gives students a free half-day to spend in their toughest class. "Some of our top students are there, not just the students who need extra help," McNeill said.

Lakeside High School in Columbia County, near Augusta, had the state's second-highest average score —- 24.9. Fayette County's McIntosh High School was third with a score of 24.8.

Six Fulton County schools were in the top 25 scorers on the ACT. Cobb County and Gwinnett County schools each had five schools in the top 25.

"This is our lead story at Parkview today," said principal Charles "Buck" Buchanan, who spoke of the Lilburn school's high score on the afternoon announcements. Parkview ranked eighth in Georgia on the ACT. "Our kids are very competitive in the classroom. Being smart at Parkview is cool."

GEORGIA HIGH SCHOOLS WITH THE HIGHEST AVERAGE ACT SCORES

District ..........School ..................Score

Cobb County........George Walton Comp ......25

Columbia County....Lakeside ................24.9

Fayette County ....McIntosh ................24.8

Fulton County......Northview................24.6

Fayette County ....Starr's Mill ............24.2

Chatham County ....Savannah Arts Academy....24.1

Fulton County......Chattahoochee............24.1

Gwinnett County....Parkview ................24

Fulton County......Roswell..................23.9

Gwinnett County....Brookwood................23.8

Muscogee County....Columbus ................23.8

Fulton County......Alpharetta ..............23.8

Cobb County........Wheeler..................23.7

Fulton County......Centennial ..............23.7

Fulton County......Riverwood................23.6

Cobb County........Alan C. Pope ............23.5

Oconee County......North Oconee ............23.5

Fulton County......Milton ..................23.5

DeKalb County......Chamblee ................23.4

Gwinnett County....Collins Hill ............23.4

Cobb County........Lassiter ................23.3

Forsyth County ....South Forsyth............23.3

Gwinnett County....Duluth ..................23

Cobb County........Kennesaw Mountain........22.9

DeKalb County......Lakeside ................22.9

Gwinnett County....Peachtree Ridge..........22.9

Oconee County......Oconee County............22.9

Source: Georgia Department of Education