JOHNSTON COUNTY -- High school students in Johnston County broke a two-year trend of falling SAT scores last school year, according to test results released Tuesday morning.

The results marked the first time in three years that most high schools in Johnston scored higher on average than both their peers in North Carolina and across the country. Nationwide, students scored an average 1,017, a number unchanged from the previous year. In North Carolina, students scored an average of 1,007, up three points in a year.

Students at the Johnston County Middle College led their peers in Johnston with the highest average test score, 1,063. Their peers at Smithfield-Selma posted the lowest average SAT score -- 1,000 -- although that number was up 13 points from the prior year.

Other SAT averages from Johnston County high schools were as follows: Clayton, 1,017; North Johnston, 1,023; Princeton, 1,001; South Johnston, 1,017; and West Johnston, 1,033.