The average ACT score of Lawrence seniors dipped for the second consecutive year with the testing gap widening between Free State and Lawrence high schools.

Officials reported Tuesday the 525 Lawrence seniors who took the exam in 2002-2003 had a composite score of 23.1, down from 23.4 in 2002 and 23.7 in 2001. The test assesses students’ strength in English, math, reading and science.

Linda Allen, guidance counselor at Lawrence High School, said bolstering the number of students who finish the recommended “core or more” college preparatory curriculum would help Lawrence’s scores.

“The better the prep course,” she said, “the better the scores.”

Two-thirds of Lawrence seniors who took the test did the core courses — four years of English and three years in math, social studies and science.

At Free State, seniors earned a composite average ACT score this year of 23.5. The score was unchanged from last year.

LHS seniors posted a composite of 22.6. That’s down from 23.2 a year ago.

Both high schools were at 23.7 in 2001.

The national composite average on the ACT held steady this year at 20.8.

The composite for 28,000 Kansas seniors who took the test this year was 21.5, down 0.1.

“The small decline in our composite score is not particularly surprising, given that we have more students participating in the exam,” said Andy Tompkins, state education commissioner.