SAT scores rise; still lag behind

Despite slight increases in scores, Alleghany County Schools' Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) results still fell behind those of the state, the country and neighboring counties this year. The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction released the results Aug. 29. According to the report, 45 Alleghany High School students took the test this year, compared to 36 last year.

This year, students received an average score of 965, compared to last year's average score of 956.

The average math and average verbal scores both saw slight increases over last year's results. This year, Alleghany students averaged 491 in math, as compared to 488 last year, and averaged 474 in verbal, as compared to 468 last year.

New to the SAT mix this year was a writing test. Like the other traditions sections of the test, critical reading (verbal) and math, the highest score for the writing section is 800.

Alleghany students scored an average of 470, slightly below the state average of 485 and below the nation's average of 497.

Alleghany County School's Test Coordinator Frank Busic commented although verbal and math scores increased slightly, students' scores saw no significant gains.

"The writing test made it a more strenuous test," Busic said.

"Because the writing adds extra time to the test, fatigue may become a factor for the test takers."

Busic also pointed out Alleghany showed slight increases in the two standard test, math and critical reading, while the nation saw slight decreases in the same tests.

In comparing Alleghany students' average scores with average scores of those in neighboring counties, our students received lower scores. "I know they're trying to step up their efforts at the high school by offering AP (advanced placement) courses," Busic said. "We hope this will bring us along, but it won't be a quick fix."

Comparison

Neighboring Surry County had an average score closest to that of Alleghany County, with 1009, one point higher than the state average of 1008. According to the report, a total of 209 students in three high schools took the test there. At East Surry High, 75 students took the test and scored an average 507 in math, average 482 in verbal and average 461 on the writing test. At North Surry High, 64 students took the test, with an average score of 534 in math, 505 in verbal and 491 on the writing test. A total of 70 students took the test at Surry Central High and scored an average 518 in math, averaged 485 in verbal and averaged 476 on the writing test.

Students in Ashe County and Wilkes County schools exceeded the national average of 1021. Nationally, the average math score was 518, the average verbal score was 503 and the average writing score was 497. Ashe County students scored an average of 1032. More than 100 students (102) at Ashe County High took the test and received an average math score of 524, an average verbal score of 508 and an average writing score of 499.

Wilkes County students scored an average of 1024.

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