County SAT scores up 23 points in 2007-08
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on August 27, 2008 1:52 PM
Scholastic Aptitude Test scores in Wayne County Public Schools for 2007-08 increased by 23 points over the previous year, according to a report released Tuesday by the College Board.
Area high schools had in-creases in every area, officials said.
Locally, the average SAT score was 1438, slightly behind North Carolina's median of 1489. Nationally, the average score was 1511.
However, there was one school that broke the national average -- Wayne Early/Middle College High with an average score of 1689.
As a whole, however, the district's critical reading score went up by 12 points and math rose by six. Comparatively, the state average dropped by one point in critical reading and rose two points in math.
Writing, added to the mix two years ago, showed a five-point increase locally, to 459, while the state and national scores remained the same, 482 and 494, respectively.
Since 1990, the county's math and critical reading scores have risen 99 points, officials said, as compared to the national average in those two areas, which have only gone up 16 points over the same period.
SAT scores are the measure used for preparedness of students taking the test for college. Not every high school student, however, takes the test and in the case of students taking the test more than once, regardless of the score, the most recent result is used in the College Board report.
District officials said they were pleased with the gap being closed on the state and national levels.
"Wayne County Public Schools' students are closer to state and national averages than they have ever been," said Dr. Craig McFadden, assistant superintendent for accountability and student services. "These results, along with the No Child Left Behind and ABC results recently released, showed undeniable and impressive improvements made by the district relatives to state and national standards."
Dr. Steven Taylor, schools superintendent, agreed.
"This has been an excellent year for the district," he said. "We can attribute much of our gains in student performance to the school reform efforts that have been implemented in recent years," he said. "As we continue to build upon the programs that are in place and implement new programs in the schools. It is our hope that our students will not only close the gap with the state and national averages, but soon surpass them."