Posted Wednesday, August 22, 2012 --- 8:20 a.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Wisconsin students' average ACT scores slightly dropped this year compared with 2011, but they remain above the national average.

The average composite score for Wisconsin students who graduated this spring was 22.1 out of 36. That's down from 22.2 last year.

But the national average this year was 21.1, the same as it was in 2011.

In Wisconsin, 71 percent of students who graduated took the test. That's the same as last year. Nationwide, 52 percent of students took the test.

Of the 28 states where at least 50 percent of students took the test, Wisconsin's score was tied for second highest with Iowa. Minnesota was the highest at 22.8.

The results were released Wednesday by the independent nonprofit ACT.

Copyright 2012. The Associated Press.