SAT scores fall as more students take the college entrance exam

shreyadas

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SAT scores fall as more students take the college entrance exam
Could the Scholastic Aptitude Test be a victim of its own success in Georgia?

The annual test of college readiness shows a decline in average scores across the state and nation, with most pointing to the increased numbers of test takers each year as the reason for the drop.

In Georgia, the six-point drop in SAT scores from last year mirrored the national six-point drop, and national scores in the math section were the lowest scores recorded since the SAT began. Over the past two years, participation rates have climbed by more than 10,000 students, putting Georgia fifth in the number of test takers in the country, but near the bottom when it comes to test scores.

Georgia's high school students averaged a score of 1445 on this year's SAT, down from 1451 in 2010. The national average was 1500, also a six-point decrease from 2010. The state's average was calculated with scores of private and home-schooled students. Without those scores, the SAT average plunges to 1431 for public school students.

The SAT is measured in three sections – math, reading and writing – with a possible score of 2400. This is the fifth year in a row Georgia has seen its SAT scores drop; reversing a steady increase reported just a decade ago.

Locally, Fulton students saw similar declines in performance on the SAT with a seven-point drop in 2011 from last year. The bright spots remain in North Fulton, where Northview High School remains the top large school when it comes to SAT performance. Northview's score of 1751 was up 19 points from last year; and a near 30-point jump since 2009.

Taking out the state's top two performing schools, which tested fewer than 120 students in total, Northview's average score of 1751 was the best in the state. Most impressive is that the average score was attained by 576 Northview students who took the SAT in 2011. This is the third year in a row that Northview has led the state on SAT average among large-enrollment schools.

In all, five high schools in North Fulton landed on the state's top 20 list: Northview (3), Chattahoochee (6), Alpharetta (8), Milton (12) and Roswell (14).

Alpharetta High School managed to hold onto its top-10 spot despite a plunge of nearly 40 points from last year's test. Its overall score this year of 1679 is down from 1717 last year, and even below its 2009 results.

Also seeing a decline in SAT score this year was Centennial, which dropped seven points. On the flip side, Milton saw a five-point increase, along with a seven-point increase at Chattahoochee and a nine-point jump at Roswell.

In only its second year of offering the SAT, Johns Creek High School scored an average 1595 among its 167 students taking the test. This represents a 35-point increase from last year when only 40 students took the SAT.

The decline in scores over a three-year period is even sharper among area schools. In 2008, the traditional high schools in North Fulton scored an average of 1677. In 2011, the average had declined to 1659 – an 18-point decline.

Too many taking test?

State education officials are quick to point out the "largest and most diverse group of graduating seniors in Georgia's history took the SAT this year." However, they also point to the state's 80 percent participation rate as the reason the scores are falling.

"It's good that we have so many students aspiring to go to college," said State School Superintendent John Barge. "However, I believe we have to do a better job of educating our students as to what exam is needed to get into the appropriate post-secondary institution. We have far more students taking the SAT than the number of students going to four-year universities."

Barge noted many post-secondary institutions don't require the SAT for students to be accepted.

"When we roll out our career pathways next year, the appropriate post-secondary tests needed for enrollment will be clearly outlined for students," said Barge.

The higher the participation rate, the lower the average scores, said Barge.

"It is common for scores to decline when the number of students taking an exam increases, because more students of varied academic backgrounds are represented in the test-taking pool," said Barge. "As the number of SAT takers in Georgia has increased 18 percent among all students and 19 percent among public school students since 2007, score declines like Georgia has experienced can be expected."

On scores alone, Georgia ranks 48th among 50 states. However, many higher-scoring states have a lower percentage of college-bound seniors taking the SAT, preferring instead the ACT exam that is more widely accepted among Midwestern and Western states.

For that reason, the College Board has a disclaimer on the site noting "media and others often rank states, districts and schools on the basis of SAT scores despite repeated warnings that such rankings are invalid. The SAT...should never be used alone for such comparisons because demographics and other non-school factors can have a strong effect on scores."

In 2011, more than 1.6 million high school students took the SAT, making it the most widely taken standardized college admissions test in the U.S.
 
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