District 113 Boasts Higher Test Scores Than State, Nation

and students are averaging higher scores on state tests than students throughout Illinois, according to a report recently released by the Illinois State Board of Education.

As Patch reported , Deerfield High School has the highest composite score on the ACT in Lake County for the second year in a row with a score of 27.1 out of 36. Highland Park High School's score is 26. Those figures are well above state and national averages, 20.9 and 21.1 respectively.

"Though the unprecedented number of brilliant students created a very competitive atmosphere for my peers and I---and always set test curves way too high---I'm honored to have graduated in such an overachieving class," said former Patch columnist , who recently began school at the .

Pioneer Press reports that a dozen District 113 students have gotten perfect scores on the ACT, according to District 113 Director of Communication . Patch highlighted one such student, , in August.

“I started screaming,” Glass said when she saw her score. She said her dad called out to her to find out what was wrong. “It took a couple of seconds to register."

School officials say Deerfield and Highland Park’s outstanding reputations factor into college admission officers' calculations when making their final decisions and notable test scores, like those recorded by the class of 2011, can only help.

“We have over 200 colleges that visit our school each fall,” said Highland Park High School college counselor Aliza Gilbert. “Colleges want our students to attend their schools.”

See more about how District 113 schools compare to other schools throughout the state by taking a look at this interactive report card.