Students in the Alachua County Public School district earned the second-highest SAT scores in the state this year.
The average total score in the county was 1594, above both the 1460 state score average and the national 1498 average, according to a report from the College Board, which administers the college readiness exam.
This year, 871 Alachua County seniors, or about 44 percent of the district’s students, took the test.
Last year, 847 students took the exam, and Alachua County students ranked third in the state behind smaller counties with fewer test takers.
"Our philosophy is to encourage more students to challenge themselves through advanced courses and college-level exams like the SAT, the ACT and Advance Placement," said Sandy Hollinger, the district's deputy superintendent for instruction and student services, in a Alachua County Public Schools release.
"We find that many students will rise to that challenge and as a restful are better prepared for high education," she said.
Students in Washington County, whose eight test takers represented 4 percent of its graduating seniors, had the highest overall score, according to the release.
The SAT exam consists of reading, math and writing sections.
According to the release, Alachua County students' average scores in all three categories were higher than statewide and nationwide scores.
Alachua County's average scores were 535 in reading, 539 in math and 520 writing.
Florida scores were 492 in reading, 492 in math and 476 in writing.
The national scores were 496, 514 and 488, respectively.