August 27, 2003

While SAT Scores Rise in U.S., Texas Still Near Bottom

by THOM MARSHALL
The Houston Chronicle
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/2067982

High school students across the nation averaged the highest scores in years on the most recent round of SAT testing, but Texas continues to rank near the bottom.

The nonprofit College Board, which owns and operates the nation's leading college entrance exam, reported Tuesday that 2003 high school graduates produced the best math scores in 36 years and the best verbal scores in 16 years.

The average cumulative score of 1,026 is up six points from the average for graduates in 2002. The College Board credits the higher scores to increased enrollment in advanced math and science courses such as physics, pre-calculus, calculus and chemistry.

Perfect score for each half of the test is 800, and 897 students scored 1,600.

Texas scores hovered near the bottom, with Hawaii and the District of Columbia ranking lower in average verbal scores, and Florida, South Carolina, Georgia and the District of Columbia ranking lower in average math scores.

The Texas scores are a drop of one point each from the averages posted five years ago.

However, DeEtta Culbertson, a spokeswoman for the Texas Education Agency, pointed out the 2003 verbal score for Texas students reflects a two-point increase over last year's average and the math score holds even. And more students participated.

The total number of 2003 Texas graduating seniors who took the SAT I was 124,571, an increase of 8,114 over the previous year. The national total for exam participants was 1.4 million.

"It's good to see they've got more kids every year taking this test," Culbertson said. "Our scores, even with the increase, are staying even or going up. That's a good sign."

Statistics for the Houston Independent School District are not available, said district spokeswoman Adriana Villarreal.

Last year's districtwide averages were 465 verbal and 472 math, with wide variations among the campuses. Scores ranged from lows of 358 verbal at Eastwood and 337 math at Wheatley to highs of 582 verbal at the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and 591 math at Bellaire.

The College Board reported that 42 percent of 2003 SAT-taking seniors said they were A students -- up from 32 percent 10 years ago.

About 36 percent of those taking the test were minority students, up 6 percent from a decade ago.

Tuesday, August 26, 2003

Texas' SAT Scores Below National Average

By TERRENCE STUTZ
The Dallas Morning News
http://www.dallasnews.com/latestnews/stories/082703dntexsat.44426e78.html

AUSTIN -- The long-running gap in SAT scores between students in Texas and across the nation widened this year as Texas high school seniors failed to match the impressive gains seen in other states.

Results released Tuesday by the College Board showed that while Texas students registered a two-point increase on the college entrance exam, the national average was up six points from a year ago. The national math score reached its highest level in more than 35 years while the verbal score hit its highest mark since 1987.

In Texas, students from the Class of 2003 scored an average 500 in math -- the same as last year -- and 493 in verbal skills -- up two points from a year ago. Nationally, students scored an average 519 on in math and 507 in verbal skills.

A perfect score on each section of the SAT is 800.

State education officials focused on the gain in verbal skills and the fact that an increased number of students took the test -- a sign that more Texas students are trying to go to college.

"Texas has good news on two fronts today. The number of students who see college as an option is on the rise and test scores are up," said Robert Scott, interim head of the Texas Education Agency.

Nearly 57 percent of graduating seniors in the state -- a total of 124,571 students -- took the SAT, compared with about 48 percent of seniors across the country. Nationally, 1.4 million took the exam.

Mr. Scott also noted that the number of black and Hispanic students taking the exam in Texas has jumped by about 50 percent over the past decade.

The higher verbal scores in Texas were achieved primarily by black students (a three-point increase to 423) and white students (a two-point increase to 525). The average for Hispanics was unchanged from last year at 444.

In math, the average score was unchanged for white students at 529, while the scores dropped for both blacks (down two points to 418) and Hispanics (down three points to 450).

Compared with California, which has similar demographics, Texas students did not fare well, trailing California students by 19 points in math and 6 points in verbal skills.

Officials with the College Board, which administers the SAT, said there were several positive aspects about the national results, including the increased number of minority students who were tested.

"High SAT scores, a record number of test takers and more diversity add up to a brighter picture for American education. While we certainly need to make more progress, the fact remains that we are clearly headed in the right direction," said College Board President Gaston Caperton.

College Board officials noted that male students registered significant improvements in verbal skills, gaining five points to 512. Female students went up one point to 503. In math, both groups went up three points, males to 537 and females to 503.

As in previous years, the numbers showed that students who took four or more years of English and three or more years of math, science and social studies scored substantially higher than those who took fewer core courses.

In Texas, students who took the a more demanding course load scored an average 29 points higher in math and 31 points higher in verbal skills than students who took an easier course load.

Beginning in the fall of 2004, more Texas students will be pushed into a tougher classes as ninth graders are required to follow the more rigorous Recommended High School Graduation Plan unless they receive permission to opt out.

"A strong, early focus on the college success skills of reading, writing and mathematics continues to be the best path for reaching excellence on the SAT," Mr. Caperton said. "Verbal scores still trail math scores, so we must continue our efforts to focus on verbal skills. Rigorous preparation in this area is crucial for student success in college and beyond."

To highlight the importance of verbal skills, a new SAT scheduled to be introduced in two years will add more reading passages and emphasize writing. It will include a standardized writing test that a growing number of colleges are already requiring for admission.

Nearly 80 percent of colleges and universities without open admissions policies use SAT scores in accepting students.