DES MOINES -Minnesota was the only state to beat out Iowa students in the ACT rankings for 2009.

Iowa students earned the second highest average ACT score in the nation in 2009, according to results released today by ACT.

The average ACT composite score for Iowa students this year was 22.4, which is the same as last year. Iowa has the second highest average composite score for states testing the majority of their graduating seniors. Minnesota is again first with 22.7 out of a possible 36.

"Today's numbers show that Iowa's students are some of the best in the nation," Gov. Chet Culver said in a press release. "Yet, while these are numbers are impressive, we must continue to strive for educational excellence."

African-American students made the greatest gain compared to last year, with a 0.5 composite score increase. African-American students had an average composite score of 17.8 in 2008 and jumped to 18.3 in 2009. In addition, more African-American students took the test, going from 435 last year to 448 this year. Overall, minority participation increased by 107 students, relative to the class of 2008.

Fifty-nine percent of the 2009 graduating class, or 22,377 students, took the test. This is slightly less than last year when 22,950 students took the test, but the 2009 graduating class was smaller.

The ACT is a curriculum-based achievement test designed to measure the skills and knowledge that are taught in schools and deemed important for first-year college students to possess. The ACT is made up of four separate exams in English, reading, mathematics and science and is administered in all 50 states.