ST. JOHN | If college entrance exams measure the critical thinking skills students should learn to succeed in college then Lake Central School Corp. is getting the job done.

"I found these scores to be very good," Superintendent Gerald Chabot told the School Board at a recent meeting. "The percentage taking the test and the scores indicate the very good job the district is doing.

"I wanted to emphasize the statistical significance. We're growing ... and we have virtually everyone taking the test. That's a compliment to our elementary and middle school programs. This is not just a reflection of the high school."

The SAT Reasoning Test, formerly known as the Scholastic Aptitude Test, is a standardized test used by many colleges as part of the admissions process.

This year, 81 percent of Lake Central students took the test, said Tony Arini, director of secondary education.

And although average scores typically decrease as testing populations increase, Lake Central scores increased from last year and are above the state average in all areas, he added.

Nationally, 45 percent took the test and scores were unchanged from last year.

In Indiana, 62 percent took the test and scores dropped slightly in reading and writing and gained slightly in math.

Last year, the district also had 16 percent take the ACT Assessment college entrance exam, which was the highest rate ever for the district.

Indiana students' scores topped the national averages in each area of the test and Lake Central scores were higher than both the state and national average.