Hallsville, Union Grove and Pittsburg high school students are college-ready.

The three East Texas high schools are among 170 schools statewide to receive the Texas ACT Council’s 2012 College Readiness Award.

“Only 170 high schools in the state have been able to accomplish what we have done,” said Union Grove Superintendent Brian Gray. “Union Grove High School is one of the 9 percent of high schools chosen across the state for this award.”

The ACT assessment is the college admissions test used and accepted by all colleges nationwide and throughout Texas. The award is given annually to schools that have shown a significant increase in their ACT composite score during the past five years while also increasing the number of students taking the ACT assessment, said Karen Pennell, assistant vice president and regional manager of ACT’s southwest region.

“Receiving the 2012 College Readiness Award can only happen as a result of the high school faculty and staff efforts and the dedication of the Hallsville High School students and parents to focus on college and career readiness and raise the level of academic readiness for all students,” said Hallsville High School Principal John Martin.

This year, more than 39 percent of Texas high school students took the ACT — an all-time high, according to Pennell. The number of Texas students taking the ACT has increased more than 40 percent since 2008.