State officials said the average scores for black and American Indian students dropped from a year ago. Black students who account for 3 percent of those taking the test averaged 17.4 in 2007, a drop of 0.4 from 2006 and 5.1 points behind their white counterparts. American Indian students averaged 19.7, down from 19.9.

"It's been a problem that we've had for 30 years. I'm just tired of saying, 'Yes, it's terrible and we need to do something about it.' " Seagren said. "We want to dig deeper and look more robustly at how we can help. We also want to look at the schools that are beating the odds."

Officials also noted that many students leaving high school are not fully prepared for college.

Benchmark scores for each of the four areas covered by the tests predict the ability for students to have a 75 percent chance of earning a C in a college-level course.

Minnesota's recent graduates did fairly well in English testing, with 78 percent reaching the benchmark in English composition and 62 percent reaching it in reading. But 56 percent of Minnesotans reached the math benchmark, and only 38 percent hit the science benchmark.

Overall, only 31 percent of Minnesota's 2007 class met all four ACT benchmark scores.

"Far too few of this year's high school grads learned all the skills they need to have if they're going to have a good chance to succeed in math and science classes," said Richard L. Ferguson, CEO and chairman of the board of ACT, the nonprofit based in Iowa City, Iowa, that owns the exam.


- Associated Press