(Media release) The recent College Board release of SAT scores for last year's seniors shows a slight decline in average scores for Cartersville High graduates. Although the average math score was up two points, from 487 to 489, Educational Testing System (ETS) reports indicate a 21 point decrease in overall composite scores for CHS. A decline from 493 to 482 was seen in Verbal/Critical Reading and Writing averages went from 486 to 474. Annual SAT results were released Monday by ETS. State of Georgia SAT scores also showed a decline in all three areas of the testing: critical reading (-2 points), math (-1 point), and writing (-4 points). Nationally, overall SAT scores remained unchanged at a composite average of 1509.
"The decline in any individual area is not statistically significant given the numbers of students being reported. We would be saying the same thing if each of these areas had increased by those values. However, any decline is certainly not what you want to see in any testing measure," says Ken Clouse, Assistant Superintendent. "You do have to take these types of tests for what they are and for what their intended value is. To use this data to compare schools, to compare states, or to compare performance of a group of students from one year to another is not appropriate use of this data; and that is what the designers of the test tell you."
SAT and it's counterpart, ACT, are designed as predictor tests for individual students on how well they might perform during the first year of college if they go and apply themselves to the fullest. SAT only reports average scores from the last time graduates took the test regardless of whether those scores were the best for that student. Many students take the SAT multiple times in order to try to improve their scores in a particular area. For instance, a student might perform very well in math the first time and decide to take the test again to increase their verbal score. It is feasible their math score may decline the second time around because of less focus on that portion of the test. ETS will only report the last scores and those are not necessarily the highest. Colleges generally use the highest scores in admission selection criteria regardless of when the test was taken.
"Caution should be exercised in making any type of comparison with SAT scores or similar measures. You need to look at the numbers of students and which students take the test. At Cartersville, we don't necessarily screen students on whether they should take the test or not. Some schools do. Increasing the pool of students taking a test produces a wider range in scores and makes it more difficult to raise the average score of a group of students. It doesn't take many low scores to drop the average of the group."
"The key to obtaining higher scores on these types of test is in preparation. Students who take a more rigorous core path and course of study tend to perform better on SAT and ACT tests. Students selecting to take Advanced Placement courses, higher level math and science classes, and more challenging classes are going to be better prepared and consequently perform better on the SAT."
Cartersville City is committed to providing the most rigorous instructional program possible for all of our students and encouraging each of them to choose those challenging pathways. Raising the average score is a good thing public relation wise, but it is not and should not be the major goal of a school. It is like athletic scholarships. We should provide opportunities for students and support those efforts; but when it is all said and done those scholarships come from the talents and skills that the individual student has developed."
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