Lowell students make SAT gains
By Shawn on Aug 29, 2007 in Articles, Schools
BOSTON — High schoolers’ SAT scores have dipped minimally statewide for the second time in two years, prompting Department of Education Commissioner David Driscoll to call for more access to the PSAT.
“The PSAT is crucial, because once they jump into that pool the kids tend to keep going,” Driscoll said at a Board of Education meeting yesterday morning. Officials at the College Board, which administers the test, released 2007 SAT test results yesterday.
The PSAT is typically given to students in 10th or 11th grades and is seen as a practice exam for the SAT.
Taking the PSAT paid off big-time for Lowell High School students, who scored their highest marks on the college-entry exam in 10 years, said LHS Headmaster Bill Samaras.
The boost was due partially to the fact that all students have taken the PSATs in the last few years, Samaras said.
“We’re seeing an improvement in all areas,” Samaras said. “The scores still aren’t where we want them to be, but we had far more kids participating and it’s a great move in the right direction.”
LHS students scored 518 in reading, 463 in math, and 478 in writing. Last year, students got 449 in reading, 472 in math, and 445 in writing.
The state only slipped one point in their average score from last year, staying even at 513 in reading, losing two points to 522 in math, and gaining one point to 511 in writing. Students who took the PSAT across the nation as sophomores or younger scored an average of 43 points higher on the reading exam, 47 points higher on the math exam, and 52 points higher on the writing exam.
In Ayer, students upped their test scores in all categories by four points or more. Tyngsboro seniors, however, lost ground in reading by 15 points, in math by four points, and in writing by 16 points.
Driscoll pointed to a growing achievement gap in the state between white students and minorities as a deep concern.
“We had 13 years in a row of SAT increases before this, and I would always say, ‘Yeah, that’s great, but look at the black and Hispanic results,’ ” Driscoll said.
While white students statewide scored an average of 520 in reading, 530 in math and 517 in writing, black students scored 419 in reading 419 in math and a 414 in writing. Hispanic students earned an average score of 434 in reading, a 442 in math and a 427 in writing.
The number of minorities participating in the test increased, however. Hispanic participation across the state rose by 35.9 percent and black participation rose by 4.4 percent.
Technical schools in Greater Lowell saw a big boost in participation. Greater Lowell Technical High School had 46 students take the SAT last year, and 77 took it this year. Participation at Shawsheen Valley Technical High School went to 119 students, and 89 had participated last year.
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