The average ACT score for Lafayette Parish high school students was a 20 this year, slightly ahead of the state average of 19.4.

Overall, 257 more Lafayette Parish seniors scored an 18 or above on the test this past year than in 2011-2012.

The Louisiana Department of Education released the statistics Thursday morning.

According to a news release, 24,619 Louisiana high school students earned an 18 or above on the ACT this past spring, an increase of nearly 1,000 students from the previous year and an increase of more than 6,300 students from 2012.

The state’s average composite ACT score rose slightly. The average was a 19.2 in 2014.

State officials also said there were increases in the number of black students who scored 18 or higher on the ACT; the number of Louisiana students who qualified for TOPS college scholarships and the number of high school graduates enrolled in college.

State Education Superintendent John White said in a statement that the increases reflect positively on changes made in Louisiana high schools in recent years. Those changes include more rigorous academic standards, an overhaul of the state’s accountability system, the creation of the Jump Start career education program and an expansion of Advanced Placement courses.

“By providing access to more rigorous courses and tests for all students, we are seeing achievement increase across the board,” White said in a news release. “Our state needs to keep raising its expectations if we expect to compete.”