Lawrence high-schoolers out-performed the state and national averages on the SAT college-entrance exam last year.

At Free State High School, the 70 seniors who took the test got a mean score in reading of 622, 613 in math and 610 in writing. At Lawrence High School, 53 students scored a mean of 601 in reading, 600 in math and 563 in writing. The highest possible score in each test is 800.

The statewide average was 595 in reading, 599 in math and 570 in writing. The state mean was up one point in math and writing and up five points in reading.

Only about 5 percent of Kansas students take the SAT; the ACT exam is historically more popular for colleges not on the east or west coast.

In Lawrence, more girls took the SAT than boys last year — 77 to 46 — and their mean scores were lower for reading and math in both schools. But girls from both schools outperformed boys in writing with a mean score 8 points higher at Free State and 29 points higher at Lawrence High.