(RALEIGH) -- Nearly two-thirds of all high school graduates in North Carolina who enrolled in community college needed at least one remedial course before taking college-level classes. That is according to a report published by the conservative John Locke Foundation.

The study found that the percentage of students needing developmental courses increased by 7 percent between 2006 and 2009 despite the fact that high school graduation rates also went up during the same time period.  The report blames the different standards used to assess students at the high school and college level.

John Locke Foundation analyst Terry Stoops said the existing tests are not good enough. "Perhaps our testing program is indicating that many of our students have mastery in a certain area when in reality they don't," said Stoops.

North Carolina Community College System president Dr. Scott Ralls said legislation that will require high school students to take the ACT test will give educators a better measurement of performance. "So, for the first time, we're really trying to align our definitions of college readiness.  I think that's been a fundamental issue with the problem and will be a fundamental reason we might be able to really address this moving forward," said Ralls.