The scores of black students in Illinois have been flat for the past five years, creating a widening achievement gap

A new report says Illinois students are scoring better on the ACT. ACT's report says the average composite score for the class of 2008 was 20.7 out of a possible 36. That's up two-tenths of a point from 2007. It's also the highest score since the test became mandatory for the class of 2002. But the gains came mostly from white students' scores. Black students' scores have been flat for the past five years, creating a widening achievement gap.