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State SAT scores lead nation for sixth straight year
Participation among Hispanic students jumps nearly 20 percent
OLYMPIA - August 26, 2008 - For the sixth consecutive year, Washington state SAT averages are the highest in the nation among states in which more than half of the eligible students took the tests, according to figures released by the College Board today.
The ranking is based on students taking the SAT who were 12th graders in the Class of 2008.
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Average SAT Scores by Subject
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Subject
Reading
Math
Writing |
State
522
531
505 |
Nation
497
510
488 |
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Note: The SAT is composed of the three tests listed above. Students score between 200 and 800. |
“The SAT is a great measure of how college-ready our top students are,” said Terry Bergeson, Washington state superintendent of public instruction. “Our scores compared to the rest of the nation speak volumes about the quality of the education students in this state are receiving.”
In 2008, Washington students in public schools averaged 522 in critical reading, 531 in math and 505 in writing. The state’s 2007 averages were similar (522 in reading, 527 in math and 505 in writing).
Nationally, scores in all three subject areas also remained steady, where public school students averaged 497 on critical reading (down one point from 2007), 510 in math (up one point) and 488 in writing (no change).
Among states with at least half of the eligible students taking the SAT, Washington ranked first in critical reading and math, and fourth in writing, behind Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
Statewide participation increased by 0.9 percent to 30,667 public school students. A total of 1,167,849 public students across the nation took the SAT, down 1.4 percent from last year.
Two major ethnic groups in the state saw increased participation compared to 2007 – Hispanic students were up 19.9 percent and Black students up 3.8 percent. Asian and American Indian student participation decreased slightly by 1.2 and 3.8 percent, respectively.
The SAT is one of two primary college readiness exams evaluated by colleges and universities in their admissions process. Students can take the SAT at any time during high school, but results are only counted once in the national report. Students’ most recently earned scores are included in today’s announcement.
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2008 results by ethnicity: Average SAT scores |
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Washington
Public Schools |
Nation’s
Public Schools |
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Critical Reading |
Math |
Writing |
Critical Reading |
Math |
Writing |
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Overall |
522 |
531 |
505 |
497 |
510 |
488 |
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Am. Indian |
494 |
495 |
473 |
481 |
487 |
466 |
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Asian |
509 |
557 |
498 |
512 |
569 |
512 |
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Black |
449 |
444 |
436 |
425 |
424 |
419 |
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Hispanic |
465 |
470 |
452 |
449 |
457 |
442 |
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White |
534 |
538 |
516 |
524 |
535 |
513 |
Including private school students, 36,306 Washington seniors in the Class of 2008 took the SAT. Average state scores, including private school students, were 526 in reading, 533 in math and 509 in writing.
“I am proud of the continued high achievement our students who take college-entrance exams are showing,” Bergeson said. “Coupled with the strong ACT scores that were released earlier this month, I am confident that our college-bound students are gaining the skills they need to be successful. These results are indicators of the strengths of our education system.”
The preliminary results for Advanced Placement performance and participation are equally as impressive, Bergeson said. Early AP results released by the College Board show state student participation increased by 8.5 percent from 2007 and performance jumped 6.9 percent in the number of students earning grades of 3, 4 or 5.
Hispanic (+13.8 percent), Asian (+10.4 percent) and Black (+2.4 percent) students all improved their performance as participation increased by an average of about 10 percent in the four major ethnic groups. Only American Indian students (-9.0 percent) saw their performance drop from 2007.
To view State results click here. For national 2008 SAT scores, visit http://www.collegeboard.com.
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