High school students in the Bowling Green Independent School District and Warren County Public Schools set records when they took the ACT as juniors last year, according to recently released results.

Bowling Green High School juniors scored an average composite score of 21.3, topping the state composite average score of 19.8.

In Warren County schools, the new district composite score of 20.9 represents the highest ever recorded by the district’s juniors, according to a news release. It topped the previous record of 20.5 set last school year.

“We’re extremely proud to see an increase of four tenths of a point,” said Cindy Beals, the district’s assessment coordinator, noting it shows a high level of teacher dedication.

County schools Superintendent Rob Clayton echoed that sentiment.

“One of our top priorities in Warren County Public Schools is to ensure student achievement, and our most recent ACT results validate the tremendous effort by our students, teachers, support staff and administrators,” Clayton said in the release. “Our staff continues to refine their instructional processes in the classroom in order to ensure high levels of student engagement, and I could not be more proud of their efforts. It is difficult to move the needle forward on ACT results year after year, but our students and staff continue to find a way to accomplish this. It is remarkable that each junior class finds a way to surpass the performance of the class before them year after year.”

This is the fourth straight year the county schools’ ACT scores have topped the state average by nearly a point or more, according to the district.

For Beals, much of that success comes from teachers’ efforts to re-evaluate their assessments to see if they’re meeting high standards. Beals said this is done through a process called district common assessments.

“We’re revisiting the standards every year to make sure we’re teaching the kids what they need to know,” she said.

The district said students once again tested above the state average in all College Readiness Benchmark content areas, including English, math, reading and science.

According to data provided by Beals, South Warren High School had the highest composite average score at 21.5, followed by Greenwood High School at 20.6, Warren East High School at 19.7 and Warren Central High School at 18.5. Beals noted that Warren Central has risen from 17.8 to its current score.

Among Bowling Green High School juniors, the 255 students scored an average composite score of 21.3. That’s the highest for the high school since all juniors began taking the exam in 2008 as part of state assessments, according to the district. Students also outscored state averages in all content areas and the state composite score of 19.8.

BGHS students also scored at a higher rate than the state percentage in college-readiness benchmarks, with 27 percent of the BGHS students meeting all four benchmarks compared to 21 percent at the state level.

BGHS Principal William King credited the school’s success to its WIN Program, which stands for What I Need. The program supports students with two 40-minute sessions a week targeting a subject area they’re struggling in. If students improve, they’re allowed to take enrichment courses with that time instead.

“Our teachers have been working really hard to provide intervention and support to help kids reach their ACT benchmarks,” he said.

Superintendent Gary Fields agreed, also crediting the students and their parents. “It’s a big team effort to prepare kids to be successful,” he said.